Polo Barbados 2012

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In a world where there is so much stress and anxiety watching a polo match can be therapeutic. There’s nothing quitelike the sanctuary of a polo field to step into another world and enjoy the tranquil equestrian ambience of chukkas, socialinteraction and a few drinks with friends. Barbados is now blessed with a number of polo venues, each with their owncharacter and setting, although for many people Holder’s Hill remains the spiritual home of local polo. And who couldchallenge that opinion, given its majestic setting and a West Coast sunset on a Sunday afternoon?Polo Barbados is an annual publication aimed at giving spectators a feel for the local game with a wide range of

features and information on the sport to help provide a better understanding of whatis happening on the field. Many people have been introduced to their first polo matchin Barbados and they have found the experience so invigorating and entertaining thatthey have become regular visitors. That’s the spell that this exciting and unique sportcan cast on visitors and the main reason why it has grown so rapidly in the past decade.Winds of change are in the air in 2012, but that will not detract from another packedprogram of fixtures involving all the polo venues. I’m sure you will enjoy the actionand thoroughly recommend visiting the different venues.This publication would not be possible without the support of a number of sponsors,advertisers and contributors. We thank you en bloc for your kind support and wecommend the products and services advertised by patrons with a genuine interest inthe promotion of polo in Barbados.

Pamela HilesEditorHiltop Publications Ltd, 11 Cottage Ridge, St George, Barbados BB19071email: [email protected] www.sportingbarbados.comwww.barbadospropertynews.com www.caribbeanpropertymag.com

Editorial

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Cover Photograph by - Lisa Davis

Polo Barbados 2012 is published by Hiltop Publications Ltd.Production - Hiltop Publications Ltd, 11 Cottage Ridge, St George, Barbados Tel (246) 228-9122,Email - [email protected],Editorial - Clarence Hiles Robin Bradford Advertising - Pamela HilesPhotography - Lisa Davis, Joanne Spencer, Clarence Hiles. Design - 809 DesignThanks - The Editors would like to thank advertisers, the polo members and everyone who helpedto produce this publication.Unless specifically detailed, all the editorial is attributed to the editors and accuracy was deemed correctwhen going to print.No part of this publication should be reproduced without the permission of the publishers.Copyright Polo Barbados 2012

P O L O B A R B A D O S

Fixture ListPolo PeoplePlayers HandicapsChanging Times In Local PoloPolo Rules, What Happens When...Handicaps; What Do They Mean?Out & AboutBy George... What A Year For GemmellPolo LingoSocial PoloAnd The Battle ContinuesIt’s A Family ThingWho & What Is Timothy Oulton?Mervyn BarnesSocial PoloNews & ViewsJust A Decade AgoHurlingham, The Biggest Player In The Sport Of PoloAnd The Winner Is...A Few Moments With Lucy TaylorAnd The Winner Is...Nuedge GalleryPeople At Polo - Leif BrandelLifestyle Redesigned At LimegroveCruising 101Polo Wines Across The GlobeSponsors In ActionSalvador ‘Chulo’ Sanchez DugganBehind The ScenesThe Pageantury Of The Turf ClubHow To Get There & Clubs Contact Information2011 Memories

Read Polo Barbados online at: www.sportingbarbados.com

2012

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DATES TOURNAMENT FIELD

FebruaryFebruaryFebruaryFebruaryFebruaryFebruaryFebruaryFebruaryFebruaryFebruaryFebruaryFebruary

MarchMarchMarchMarchMarchMarchMarchMarchMarchMarchMarch

Apes Hill TourApes Hill TourBPC USA (The Villages) TourApes Hill TourBPC USA (The Villages) TourApes Hill TourBPC USA (The Villages) Tour FINALApes Hill / Lion Castle TourApes Hill / Lion Castle TourApes Hill / Lion Castle TourBPC Cheshire TourBPC Cheshire Tour

BPC Cheshire TourBPC Cheshire Tour FINALBPC Barbados Open 10 Goal TournamentBPC Barbados Open 10 Goal TournamentBPC Barbados Open 10 Goal TournamentBPC Barbados Open 10 Goal TournamentBPC Barbados Open 10 Goal SEMI FINALSBPC Barbados Open 10 Goal FINALBPC Ladies TourApes Hill TourApes Hill Tour

Apes HillApes HillHoldersLion CastleHoldersApes HillHoldersApes HillApes HillApes HillHoldersHolders

Lion CastleHoldersApes HillButtalsApes HillLion CastleHoldersLion CastleHoldersApes HillLion Castle

ThursdaySaturdaySundayTuesday

ThursdayFriday

SundayWednesday

FridaySaturdaySundayTuesday

ThursdaySundayTuesday


ThursdaySundaySundayTuesday

Wednesday

24579

10121517182628

146811131518252728

Barbados InternationalPoloSeason

MARCH

293031

13579

101215222629

368

10131926

BPC Ladies TourApes Hill TourApes Hill Tour

BPC Ladies TourApes Hill TourApes Hill TourApes Hill TourApes Hill TourLion Castle Brazil TourLion Castle Brazil TourLion Castle Brazil Tour FINALLion Castle 6 Goal TournamentLion Castle 6 Goal TournamentLion Castle 6 Goal Tournament

Lion Castle 6 Goal SEMI FINALSLion Castle 6 Goal FINALLion Castle Asian TourLion Castle Asian TourLion Castle Asian Tour FINALClub MatchesClub Matches

HoldersApes HillApes Hill

HoldersLion CastleApes HillApes HillApes HillLion CastleHoldersLion CastleLion CastleHoldersApes Hill

HoldersLion CastleLion CastleApes HillLion CastleHoldersHolders

ThursdayFriday

Saturday

SundayTuesday

ThursdaySaturdayMondayTuesday

ThursdaySundaySunday

ThursdaySunday


ThursdaySunday

SaturdaySunday

MarchMarchMarch

AprilAprilAprilAprilAprilAprilAprilAprilAprilAprilApril

MayMayMayMayMayMayMay

DATES TOURNAMENT FIELD

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APRIL

MAY

Barbados InternationalPoloSeason


PoloPeopleSome captured moments from the2011 Barbados Polo Season...

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1. Isabelle Venezia, Susan Cole & Scarlet2. Tricia King, Michelle Mackie & Gina-Li Davis3. Jennifer Deane4. Ollie Williams5. Bobby Dundas & Oliver Taylor6. Natacha & Vicki Gonzalez7. Richard, Adam & Jennifer Deane8. Bruce Bayley9. Jamie Dickson10. Steven Williams11. Robbie Williams, Neil Dickson & Oliver Williams12. Christian Chavez with his son Samuel &

partner Sarah.13. Lady Williams & Sir Charles Williams14. Chanda & Richard Gooding15. Howard, Lucy & Tina Taylor16. Santiago Clerici with his dad Luis

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Teddy Williams 3

Adam Deane 2

Lucas Nicolao 2

Richard Deane 1

Luis Clerici 0

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Danny Atwell 3

Marc Atwell 2

Richard Gooding 2

Bruce Bayley 1

Lucy Taylor 1

Jamie Dickson 3

Wayne Archer 2

Salvador Duggan 2

Philip Atwell 1

George Gemmell 1

Pablo Crespin 3

Alex Cole 2

Harry Manning 2

Kent Cole 1

Stephen Williams 1

Oliver Taylor 4

Ramon Alvarez 2

Neil Dickson 2

Philip Tempro 1

Jeff Evelyn 1

BARBADOS POLO CLUBPLAYERS’ HANDICAPSNB: Players handicaps in brackets will be reviewed during the season.

Damian Luke 0

Angelique Bjerkhamn -1

Oliver Williams 0

Bjorn Bjerkhamn -1

Vicki Gonzalez 0

Monique Archer -1

Roddy Davis 0

Sir Charles Williams 0

Charles Chambers -1

Ryhs Odle - 1

Gary Shepherd -1

Ashleigh Deane -2

TJ Davis 0

Paul Andrews -1

Stewart Gill -1

Jason O’Selmo -1

Jake Bayley -2

Christansia Evelyn - 2

Playing Member mssing: Douglas Schneider -1

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Teddy Williams leans in for a great near side shot off the boards

The Barbados polo scene has totally changed in the pastdecade and is now on the international polo map. There aremany factors that have produced this amazingtransformation, but the underlying element has been thevision and drive of several polo field owners, who have liftedthe sport to another level.

Barbados polo officially dates back to 1884 when the Barbados Polo Club wasformed at the Garrison. The sport was introduced to the island by British Calvaryofficers who were infatuated by it in India and spread it throughout the BritishEmpire. The Garrison remained headquarters of the sport until the mid–Sixtieswhen the Kidd family generously madebeautiful Holders Hill available, andthe club has remained there ever since.But Barbados could never haveexpanded using only one polo fieldand, as its popularity increased withina wave of general economicprosperity post-2000, the solutionwas all too apparent.Bruce Bayley was the first polo

patron to open a new facility atClifton, followed by Kent Cole atLion Castle and Sir Charles Williams at Waterhall. In more recent timesWayne Archer and Phillip Tempro have added two private facilities.The new facilities have propelled Barbados polo to a higher level and

brought more players, visitors, spectators and sponsors into the sport. Thevisits of high profile players, including HRH Prince Harry has lifted theinternational profile, while at local level Diamonds International has been

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The new facilities havepropelled Barbados poloto a higher level andbrought more players,visitors, spectators andsponsors into the sport.

Changingtimes inlocalpolo

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the leading sponsor amidst an impressive list ofgenerous corporate supporters. TheBarbados polo season runs fromJanuary to May, and the packedfixture list would not be possiblewithout its sponsors and thepromotions at all the polo fields.But times are changing yet again,

and some clouds lie on the horizon.The current economic demise hasaffected most of the world and polosponsors are not as plentiful as inpast times. Lower tourism arrivals will inevitably hitattendances at many of the top tournaments and the toughereconomic times means less overseas players will be recruited toplay.

The loss of Kent Cole’s polo stables was abig blow to the sport and there remains uncertainly about thefuture and commitment of Clifton. These are tough times and

reflect economic rather than sportingchanges, as the enthusiasm of the playersremains as high as ever.

International polo has sufferedsignificantly over the past two years asmajor sponsors jettisoned their marketingbudgets, or in a worst-case scenario, pulledthe plug. All sport has suffered, but it saysmuch for Barbados polo and its patrons,that it continues to excel and make themost of challenging circumstances.

The 2012 polo picture has changed, but it remains a thrivingbustling sport that will continue to develop and prosper, even intough times.

These are tough timesand reflect economicrather than sporting

changes, as theenthusiasm of the playersremains as high as ever.

Wayne Archer been ridden offby Salvador Duggan as he goes

in for the near shot

It is important to have a basic understandingof the Rules of Polo and where better thanstraight from the horse’s mouth?

We asked a seasoned old polo pony to answer some frequentlyasked questions….

What happens when a player falls off?Hopefully he or she gets up again but the match stopsimmediately until they re-saddle.

What happens when a goal is scored?That’s a strange thing that I’ve never really understood. Whena goal is scored the teams play in the opposite direction untilthe next goal is scored.

What happens when a pony gets tired?We never get tired, but when a player is not playing well we getthe blame so they change the pony. The game stops until theyreturn.

What happens when the Umpires disagree?This doesn’t occur too often as they are usually too far behindthe play to know what has really happened. But when theydisagree they go over to the big chief in the stand and hemakesthe decision.

What happens when the Umpire blows for a foul?We love fouls because we get a rest while everyone watches thestar striker try and hit a goal from the penalty spot determinedby the umpires.

POLO RULESWhathappenswhen...

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What happens when the players disagree?Not much! Some players shout all the time, but the goodumpires never listen to them.

What do those numbers on the shirts mean?There are four players on each team, but the most active areusually numbers 2 and 3. Number 1 stays up front and number4 stays at the back, but that doesn’t stop players going wherethey want. The best player is usually number 3.

What happens when the commentator gets it wrong?We just have a little laugh as he tries to joke his way out of it, butwe love his jokes! Nice fellow that Jonathan Simpson.

What happens when the hooter goes off?We should all stop playing, but for some reason it takes 30seconds for the message to get through to the players and theyhave to sound the hooter again!

So what happens when you finally get off the field?Utopia! We get a cold shower, a few drinks and some hay, thena nice relaxing ride home to the stables.

And what happens to the players?Oh, they get together in the clubhouse, share a few drinks andheatedly discuss the match!

So there you have it, straight from the Horse’sMouth!

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The integrity of polo is built around a handicap system that determines the prowess of theplayer. The system is used all over the world and at the top of the scale a 10-handicap playeris regarded to have reached the highest level of excellence.

HandicapsWhat do theymean?

At the bottom end of the scale where new polo players start theirhandicap is set at a -2-handicap and each year they strive toimprove their grade.The significance of the handicap system becomes relevant

whenmatchmakers set up games because they want both teams

to have a similar aggregate to ensure players of comparablestandards face off against each other. Polo is a fast anddangerous sport so the organizers must avoid novices playingagainst highly skilled players, as their inexperience and limitedability could be disastrous. However, this should never happen,

Wayne Archer

as matches are set at particular levels of ability and promoted assuch. For example, a 14-goal match allows a team to field fourplayers with combined handicap of up to 14 goals. This is a highstandard in Barbados where the top local players are normally4-goal so overseas players were invited in the past to raise thestandard. In the current tighter economic times high goaltournaments have been reduced in number.Where there is a difference in the aggregate totals of each teamthe team with the lowest aggregate gets the difference as a startto level the playing field.Most club chukkas in Barbados are evenly matched and they

can be very competitive and at times, combative!The highest number of the best polo players in the world are

located in Argentina where there are more 10-goal players thananywhere else. A 10-goal polo player has celebrity status in thesport and has the total admiration of his peers.

In Barbados the top local playersare normally 4-goal so overseasplayers are invited to raise thestandard.

TJ Davis

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Ollie Taylor

Martin Jauregui


Out&AboutThe 2011 Polo Season saw large crowds ofspectators come out to enjoy the big tours.They patronised the 4 different venues andthe sponsors put on elaborate tents withgourmet food, an endless flow of drinks andfront row seats to all the polo action.

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Judged by any standardGeorge Gemmell has had a phenomenal 12months. The dynamicand ambitions 23 year-old followed up his 2011 Barbados season with regular games atCowdray and Guards during the English summer, then went to China in September,Australia in November, then Argentina and he couldn’t wait for the 2012 Barbados season!

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father and then learned he had been a successful amateurplayer many years before I was born. He was very friendly withthe famous Tomlinson family and one of his former teammateswas Claire Tomlinson, who is widely acknowledged as one ofthe best polo coaches in the world. Dad arranged for me tospend the summer of 2006 with the Tomlinsons and I learneda lot from Claire’s expert tuition.”

George Gemmell has come a long way in a short time and hecan mix it with the best when it comes to polo. Son of Mary-Ann, Lady Williams, and stepson of iconic Barbados polo guruSir Charles Williams, he fully appreciates the help andassistance given to him on his early steps up the polo ladder.“I first saw polo in Barbados watching Sir Charles and perhapsit was natural that I was soon stick and balling and eventuallyplaying some chukkas. When I returned to the UK I told my

ByGeorge...Whatayear forGemmell

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George’s love affair with polo has since moved on to greaterheights and every season he seems to get better and better.That hasn’t happened by chance, but through a huge personalcommitment and the support of his family. It is support thatthe talented young polo player fully appreciates…“I have been lucky to achieve what I have achieved in polo.First of all my mother has got me well mounted in England. Ihave eight horses at Todham Stables in Cowdray and they are

all of a high standard. Also, Sir Charles has been a legend. In2009 he let me play in over 60 games in his Apes Hill teamsand this was tremendous fun and highly successful. We wonthe 12-Goal Victor Ludorum in England with 14 wins out of 17games, including three tournament victories. The friendshipand camaraderie with the other players in the team was veryspecial. It was also great to win the Royal Windsor Cup inClaire Tomlinson’s Los Locos team as this repeated a similarachievement of my fathers’ many years ago. Polo is a hugelearning curve and I also had the honour of playing with thegreat Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres in England. I will neverforget turning up for practice before one of the games andthere were four 10-Goal players on the field! It was awesome.”Last year George was a member of the winning team in theBarbados Open before returning to England to play at Cowdrayand Guards. His trip to China was enlightening and he ratesplaying in the Melbourne Cup as a week of tremendous funand sport.

Despite his globetrotting, George remains very appreciative ofhis Barbadian polo background and is always quick to promoteits attributes;“Lots of polo people all over the world now know aboutBarbados Polo. When I’m asked I always say it is a great placeto come and play and have a holiday. For me this is very specialas everyone in the family can enjoy themselves alongsidethe polo. That’s very rare on the international polo map as

polo locations are normally far removed from the touristattractions.”George is not only a passionate young player, but he has

vision and enterprise. He intends to continue playing andhopefully winning for many more years, and also to build asuccessful breed. He produced his first foal last June and willhope to increase the ‘family’ this year. If he could change onepolo rule it would be to count goals scored outside 60 yards astwo goals to create more excitement. And he has someinteresting views on the future of Barbados polo…“Barbados polo has come a long way in a short time. Playersare now well mounted and the new fields have all helped toraise the standard. I’d like to see the momentum continuingwith more tournaments and the participation of more overseasprofessionals. Their presence would help raise the standardeven higher so everyone benefits.”Positive thinking from a positive and dynamic young poloplayer!

...Sir Charles hasbeen a legend.In 2009 helet me playin over 60games in hisApes Hillteams...


George Gemmell beinghooked by Jamie Dickson

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POLOLINGO

Chukkais a period of play, usually seven minutes with an additional30 seconds after the sounding of the bell. Most matches are 4to 6 chukkas.

MalletThat’s the long stick the players use to hit the ball.

Out of Boundshappens when the ball is hit over the boards and the play isthen re-started with a ‘throw-in’. The Throw-in is also used tostart or re-start a game in the centre of the field.

UmpiresThe two guys in black and white, who amble slowly behind theplay.

Referee or third manHe’s polo’s answer to the TV referee. He sits in the stand andonly adjudicates when the two umpires disagree.

Penalty Hita free hit after an infringement. The distance is determined bythe severity of the foul.

Near-sideleft side of the pony.

Ride offThis happens when a player disregards chasing the ball andputs his/her pony between the opponent and the ball similarto a fast moving rolling body-check. It’s legal, but it alwayslooks a little unsporting.

Off-sideright side of the pony. All players must play right-handed.

Line of Ballthis is the most misunderstood and abused rule. Basically it isthe imaginary line the ball is moving on and an opponentshould not cross it if a player is following that line and has theright of way. But, it is open to interpretation and quite often,disagreement.

Back Shota strike in the opposite direction in which a player is moving.It is usually performed when a player is racing back to defendand plays a reverse shot to switch the ball back upfield.

HookThe action of a player who uses his mallet to hook or stopanother player hitting the ball from behind. It is a skilfulmanoeuvre and must not be done in a robust or unsafemanner.


Some captured moments from the2011 Barbados Polo Season...

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SocialPolo

And thebattlecontinues...


A lot has happened in Barbados polo over the past decade,but this tournament has been a popular omnipresent andit appears to going from strength to strength. For manypeople it is the most popular event on the AnnualFixture List, and the large crowds that attend the gamesbear testimony to its popularity with the spectators.

It says much for the vision and enterprise of Monique Archer andDiamonds International General Manager Jacob Hassid that theirinnovative ‘Battle of the Sexes’ tournament continues to arouse so muchpassion after ten years. Diamonds International has been an integral partof the popular series and this has ensured premier marketing and theparticipation of several top overseas players every year. But there will beat least one change this year as the inaugural sponsor will not be themajor sponsor.One of the original objectives of the tournament was to raise theprofile of ladies polo and to help kickstart its popularity amongst thefair sex. This has certainly happened, but ten years down the line thelocal ladies still enjoy the support and added strength of theiroverseas recruits. And what a rich array of talent and beauty has

The winning mens team from the final match of the 2011 DiamondsInternational Piaget Battle of the Sexes: left to right:

Charles Chambers, Jason O’Selmo, Steven Williams, Jeff Evelyn

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arrived over the years. Top players like Emma Tomlinson, the Vestysisters, Lucy Taylor and the feisty Marianella Castagnola from Argentina.Others have followed in their wake and if there has been one consistenttheme, then it is the high standard they bring to the series.In the early years the men underestimated the ladies, although they willbe the last to admit it. The machomales stayed clear in the inaugural yearsand the boys who took up the gauntlet soon discovered these ladies can play!But looking back, the early success of the ladies was due to a number offactors, not least their focus and determination to put one over the beaux.And let’s not forget the spectators – almost to a person everyone seemed to besupporting the perceived underdogs.Although the series produced early success for the ladies, the men eventuallyclawed their way back to supremacy and currently hold a slight advantage.Matches have been close, but the ladies now encounter mens teams that have ahealthy respect for their ability and give no quarter.

The 2012 encounters promise to be just as exciting as ever!

In the early years the menunderestimated the ladies,although they will be thelast to admit it.

Damian Luke

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Many visitors to the polo get confusedat the involvement of so many playerswith similar names. Well, it is easilyexplained as it’s a family thing!

No sporting discipline in Barbados exhibits family ties asstrongly as polo. And it’s not just hand-me-down generations, itcrosses marriage and involves in-laws. It is often said, “Becareful what you say in Barbados as everyone is related!”Polo is certainly full of it.Let’s look at family ties and evaluate the polo dynasties in theisland.

It’s a FamilyThing

Teddy WilliamsSir Charles Williams

Oliver WilliamsStephen Williams

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Philip Atwell Marc Atwell

Roddy Davis, Adam Deane, Monique Archer, Richard Deane, TJ Davis

The Williams clan is spread over three generations- SirCharles, his two sons Stephen and Teddy, and of courseStephen’s son Ollie. Is it true the lovely Linda played a fewyears ago? And we can add Sir Charles’ stepson GeorgeGemmel as well.

Then we look at the Atwells- father Phillip and sons Dannyand Marc while brother Craig appears to be taking asabbatical these days.

Big Roddy Davis and son TJ appear as a straightforwardfather and son combination, but don’t forget prolific polophotographer Lisa, wife and mum respectively, and herbrother Philip Tempro.

Jamie and Neil Dickson are brothers and the other father-and-son combinations include Kent and Alex Cole and Richardand Adam Deane. Kent’s son-in-law is Luis Venezia andRichard’ sister is Vicki Gonzalez.

Jeff Evelyn has three daughters coming through the ranksand since his partner Vicki Gonzalez is also involved Jeff issurrounded by polo ladies.

Bjorn Bjerkhamn introduced his lovely daughters MoniqueArcher and Angelique Bjerkhamn into the sport and his son-in-law Wayne Archer just fell in love with it.

Bruce Bayley has two children both with a love for equestriansports. His 15 year old son Jake has followed in his fathersfootsteps playing in his first season of polo last year.

So if you get confused don’t worry – it’s a family thing, andremember don’t say anything untoward as we suspect at least90% of the others are cousins!

Danny Atwell

Roddy Davis

Bruce Bayley being riden off by Christansia Evelyn

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with the finest wine selection available in the island, called “THE WINE CAVE” by Trident wines. The store has two levels,and the overwhelming ambience is one of treasure trove,antiquity, history and craftsmanship.

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Timothy Oulton was born and raised in Manchester where hisfather owned an antique shop. He had a public schoolbackground, but at 18 years old it was obvious that an academiccareer was not his destiny and almost inevitably he gravitatedback to the antique shop where he had spent most ofhis school holidays. Within a short time he inheritedthe bug, but for him the biggest attraction in theantique business was the restoration of old furniturerather than the original pieces. He had a vision torestore, rebuild and manufacture classic designs witha modern perspective. He wanted his products to betimeless classic designs, unique and authentic in bothdesign and the original materials used. Little wonderhe describes himself as ‘the Rolling Stones of thefurniture business’ because his work has genuinelongevity. And, not unlike his inspirational musicalgurus, he has challenged convention and won thebattle.Oulton is the consummate master of reinvention.

He can visualize the potential of old timber andbroken down furniture in glitzy reproduction,perhaps an inherent appreciation of the qualityconveyed by the old craftsmen of yesteryear. Oulton’sartisans are just as skilled and meticulous in therestoration and preparation of the basic materials, andnot surprisingly, labour costs form the bulk of outlayin restoring an authentic product. By his ownadmission it’s not cheap, but according to thedesigner himself, financial goals are not at the top ofhis agenda.“ Whatever we do it has to be BOP – best on planet.”Visitors to the Timothy Oulton store at Millhouse andHome in Canewood will be treated to a rare exhibitionof magnificent restored furniture, creative design andfurnishings. And in keeping with his philosophy tomake the shopping experience as enjoyable aspossible, Timothy Oulton Barbados offers muchmoreas it boasts an artisanal café of Italian cuisine by ChefGianluca, and also features an exquisite wine cellar

Who&What isTimothyOulton?There’s a lot more to Timothy Oulton than the impressive furniture store at theMillhouse Complex in Canewood and, there’s a lot more to Timothy Oulton himselfwhen you delve deeper into the background of this remarkable master of restoration.


Oulton is the consummate master ofreinvention. He can visualize the potentialof old timber and broken down furniture in

glitzy reproduction, perhaps an inherentappreciation of the quality conveyed by

the old craftsmen of yesteryear.

You can’t watch polo every day in Barbados, but you can certainlyvisit the Timothy Oulton store repeatedly. It has a captivatingambience and a unique atmosphere. You can also enjoy topquality gourmet Italian cuisine and a range of exceptional qualitywines. You can even use the store and it’s catering facilities andwine cave to host a private or corporate function!

Timothy Oulton spends his year in China, England, United Statesand Barbados. There are nine stores spread across the globe and,Timothy Oulton is also responsible for the manufacturing ofsome of Restoration Hardware Store pieces and the entire KellyHoppen furniture collection.

There’s certainly a lot more to Timothy Oulton than the name!

Timothy Oulton Barbadosoffers much more as itboasts an artisanal café ofItalian cuisine by ChefGianluca...

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Mervyn William Barnes was born in Petworth, West Sussex, inthe south of England. An only child, his parents William andLilian were employed at Petworth House by Lord Leconfield, hismother in the house and father in the stables, where Merv’s lovefor animals was nurtured from an early age. His first job as a‘whipper-in’ with the local hunt ended with conscription at age18 into the Kings Troop, Royal Artillery, a mounted regimentlargely employed only for ceremonial occasions; even so, Mervwent through the same ‘boot camp’ training as regular soldiers,which helped prepare him for later service in Egypt during theSuez crisis, and as a paratrooper.While in the King’s Troop, he rode the lead horse in the gun

carriage demonstration at the Royal Tournament, an annualevent staged in the giant Earl’s Court exhibition centre in WestLondon; conducted at a flat gallop in an arena surrounded onthree sides by banks of spectator seating, it required expert

horsemanship andprecise timing.When his NationalService ended, Mervwent as whipper-inagain, this time withthe Hampshire Hunt,but returned toPetworth after a

particularly bad fall. While helping his father in the stables,Merv was approached by Lieutenant Commander Robert dePass and asked to break in some young polo ponies, his firstcontact with the sport. WhenMerv admitted to knowing nothingof polo, de Pass said (of the ponies): “Don’t worry, neither do they.”Merv worked with de Pass for 12 years, during which he met –on a polo ground - then married the love of his life, Bobby, inSeptember 1963; when a British polo team was assembled for atrip to Argentina in 1966, ponies from de Pass and Bobby’semployer, Lord Cowdray, were selected, so Mr and Mrs Barnesset off on one of the first of what would become many excitingjourneys all over the world.When de Pass had a devastating fall and felt he should retire

from the game, he asked Merv to try out with Ronnie Driver,who wanted to expand into the ‘high goal’ game; he did, startinganother successful partnership. Driver’s San Flamingo teamwould travel to the South of France at the beginning, then toDeauville in Normandy at the end of the English high goalseason. During those years, San Flamingo won most of themajor tournaments in England and France, although the Gold

Cup, staged annually at Cowdray Park, always eluded them.While working for Driver, Merv travelled regularly to Argentinato ride and select ponies, then travel with them back to England,Bobby often accompanying him; there was also a trip to theUnitedStates with a medium goal team, during which he substituted forDriver, who could not always get there to play himself.After CowWilliams and a party from Barbados travelled to the

UK to buy some horses in 1972, Driver hosted Cow and his teamthe following year, making his ponies available to them, whichwas when Cow asked to ‘borrow’ Merv to sort out his then smallstring of polo ponies. Bobby arranged leave of absence fromCowdray, and their association with the island began; theywould work the UK summer season, then travel to Barbados forthe winter, before returning in time to prepare for the next year.When Driver decided to finish with polo in 1980, Merv andBobby moved to Barbados on amore permanent basis, althoughthis changed again in 1986, following another fortuitousmeeting.This time it was withHoward Taylor, who was looking to establisha polo team. There followed six happy summers in Cheshire,alternating with Barbados winters, Merv taking on the CheshirePolo Club and driving all over Britain with ponies and boys.Merv also travelled extensively with teams assembled by Cow

Williams, including a trip to Cowdray Park in 1990, sailing withthe ponies on a Geest banana boat. In the 1990s, much timewas also spent in Jamaica making young ponies, while the rapiddevelopment of polo in Barbados over the past 20 years, withthe establishment of additionals grounds and a larger calendar,meant Merv and Bobby were never short of work.As Bobby remembers: “Merv was a man who enjoyed his

work, took great pride in what he achieved and great delight inthe company of all. He gained the respect of all he came incontact with, be they prince or pauper. Coming to Barbados wasthe best move we ever made; we were extremely lucky not onlyto have lived in this era, but also to have been able to enjoy it tothe fullest. I am sincerely grateful to Sir Charles for everythingthat he has done for us over the years.”At the funeral, where Howard Taylor and Merv’s long-time

friend, island veterinarianWill Huey, recalled happy – and oftenamusing - memories, President of the Barbados Polo Club KeithMerville said: “I have known Merv for more than 40 years, andwe had many wonderful drinking hours together, during whichtime he told fabulous stories. He was a great member of thisClub, he schooled the ponies, he schooled the younger members. . . and even schooled an old boy like me. He will be sorelymissed.”

Mervyn BarnesMarch 9, 1937 – December 15, 2011

Mervyn Barnes, who died in mid-December aged 74, firstcame to Barbados with wife Bobby, in 1973, when ‘Cow’Williams asked Merv’s then employer, Ronnie Driver, if hecould ‘borrow’ him for a month or so at the end of the UKseason; it was the start of a fruitful association that lastednearly 40 years.

When Merv admitted toknowing nothing of

polo, de Pass said (ofthe ponies): “Don’t

worry, neither do they.”


SocialPolo

Some captured moments from the2011 Barbados Polo Season...

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THE MEN AT THE TOPNot much change at the top of the Barbados Polo Clubhierarchy this year with the omnipresent Keith Melvillecontinuing as president and the senior officials much thesame as last year. Here’s the impressive list of Polo Clubadministrators for 2012;

THE 2012 BARBADOS POLOCLUB COMMITTEEPRESIDENT - Keith MelvilleVICE-PRESIDENT - Michael StouteCLUB CAPTAIN - Richard DeaneVICE CAPTAIN - Roddy DavisCLUB MANAGER/HON. SECRETARY - Jason GonsalvesHON. TREASURER - Kent ColeCOMMITTEE MEMBERS - Harry Manning, Alex ColePhilip Tempro, Teddy Williams, Danny Atwell andWayne Archer

News & Views

MEMBERSHIP GROWING

Despite the retirement of Andrew Nunes themembership will show an increase in 2012with the addition of up and coming playersAshleigh Deane, Jake Bayley and ChristansiaEvelyn.

A new generation of polo is upon us.

CLIFTON OUT TO GRASS?Not quite according to Clifton owner Bruce Bayley, but adefinite step back from the days when his polo fields set thepace with a series of high profile events. Bruce is a man ofmany talents and his interest in horseracing and breeding iswell known in local sporting circles. Lately his has expandedinto J24 sailing and there’s no doubt that has taken hissporting career in another direction. Bruce will be playingthis season ands there will be Chukkas at Clifton, but not onthe scale of the last few years. That means the local sailorscan expect him to be at the forefront of J24 racing as Bruce isrenowned for being a tough competitor and a winner!Watch this space!

DANNY FIGHTS BACKIt has been a tough year for top Barbados player DannyAtwell who broke his wrist against Cheshire last year andhas been fighting hard ever since to get back to full fitness.Happily the news is good and Danny is back in action for2012 and raring to go to make up for lost time last season.

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DIAMONDS INTERNATIONALThere will be a noticeable change in the sponsorshipof the Cheshire Tour and the Battle of the Sexes atHolder’s Hill this season as Diamonds Internationalwill not be the major sponsor. The high profile jewellerychain has been closely associated with both events inrecent times and the Battle of the Sexes Tournamentwas the brainchild of their Managing Director JacobHassid and Monique Archer, eleven years ago. Butchanges have taken place and ended this relationshipalthough Diamonds International will continue tosponsor and promote matches at Lion Castle and ApesHill this season.

IT’S A BOY!Congratulations to Alex and Susan Cole on the birth oftheir second child. The good news for the Cole dynastyis that it is a lovely little boy called Lee. And that’s alsogreat news for big sister Scarlet.

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Sadly, the 2012 season will be missing one person who hasbeen omnipresent in Barbados polo for almost 70 years. Justas the season was about to start Erie Deane passed to a highercalling after a short illness. He was close to his 92nd birthdayand at the time the oldest surviving member of the BarbadosPolo Club. Above all, he was a lovely man, small in stature, buthuge in character.Erie belied his years and was just as active in modern timesas he was throughout his working life, spent mostly BSIL andPlantations Ltd. He was a devoted husband to Anne, and theirlove of all things equestrian strengthened their marital bondfor over 55 years. Erie loved horses and his polo backgrounddates back to the 1930s when the club folded, but with his

brothers and friends he helped get is back together at theGarrison. The club moved to Holder’s Hill in 1965, but by thattime Erie had stopped playing, although his involvement withthe sport never waned.Visitors could not have missed him at all the top polo matchesas there was always a welcoming handshake and big smile.Erie and Anne rarely missed a polo game or indeed a practicegame, and their passion for the sport was instilled on their sonRichard, daughter Vicki, and their grandchildren. Erie mayhave passed on, but he will rest in peace in the knowledge thathis family will continue to play their part in the developmentand enjoyment of polo on the island.We extend our sincere condolences to the family circle.

ERIE DEANE8 March 1920 - 5 January 2012

Erie Deane with his daughter Vicki and wife Anne.

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Polo at The Garrison: Left to Right - Lee Deane, Mark Edghill, Elliot Williams and Erie Deane.

Left to Right - Erie Deane, Andy Dowding, John Marsh, Dick Moran, Mark Edghill, Sir Charles Williams, Keith Melville

Just aDecade Ago

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Holder’s Hill was the Mecca of Barbados polo at the start of thenew Millennium and had been the home of the Barbados PoloClub for over 35 years. The demure Keith Melville was into hisumpteenth year as Club President and the ebullient Sir CharlesWilliams was Club Captain. It was a special year for the ClubCaptain who was enjoying the embryonic days of knighthoodhaving been bestowed by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II atBuckingham Palace the previous year.There was a big buzz around the polo club at the time after anumber of leading business and sporting personalities took upthe sport and set in place visionary plans to take it to a higherlevel. All that was to evolve in later years, but in 2001 there wereonly 25 registered polo players and some of them were still intheir school uniforms. The lovely Monique Archer was the onlyladies player, and amongst the dashing male members therewere seven 3-Goal players. Stephen Williams was arguably thebest player on the island, but he was closely followed by brother

Teddy, Alex Cole, Danny Atwell, Harry Manning, RichardGooding and the omnipresent Kent Cole, a stalwart clubmember of many years standing.Holder’s was the only active polo field at the time, although

Bruce Bayley was well down the road to launching his new polocomplex at Clifton. Club chukkas were held several times duringthe week and they produced some lively exchanges, but theinternational season was the highlight of the polo calendar andit began in January. The fixture list was modest set against theheavy itinerary of 2012, and spectators were slowly increasing innumber. New sponsors were being wooed to the sport and thegeneral promotion of polo was gathering momentum. PoloBarbados Magazine was first published in 2000 with DannyAtwell artistically portrayed on the front cover.The three main tours in 2001 were the annual visits of a teamfrom Jamaica, the Cheshire Club from England and the VillagesClub from Florida.


If a week is a long time in politics then what is a decade in the evolving story of Barbadospolo? To some it may be an eternity, but to others it has been a whisker in time, during whicha lot has happened on and off the Barbados polo fields. Was 2001 the catalyst that sparkedthis remarkable decade? Let’s look back…

Wil Huey, Richard deane, Bruce Bayley, Desmond Maynard

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The Reggae Boyz were first to arrive and they travelled with astrong team that included 4-Goal player Andy Vernon, the Chinbrothers Shane and Kirk, and Alexander Melville, the nephew ofthe Club President. The Barbados teams were played as theBrigands and the Caribs and they showed more hospitality offthe field than they did on it as they trounced their visitors!Newspapers advertisements and a general boom in popularity

helped boost publicawareness and when theCheshire and Villagesteams played their games,the number of spectatorshad considerably increased.It was fashionable to spenda Sunday afternoon atHolder’s Polo Field and asthe Barbados tourismfigures rose, so did theattendances at polomatches.Cheshire were led by the

inimitable Howard Taylor, and their team included his son Ollie,a 5-Goal player, and his young daughter Lucy, without doubt thetheir most attractive asset. Their squad also featured 4-GoalJames Glasson and Ulsterman Stephen Hutchinson, who wasjust as lively off the field as on it! Mercedes Benz were the majorsponsors through their local agents SimpsonMotors, and somebeautiful models had to be removed from the front of theclubhouse to allow play to start. The Regimental Band playeddelightful music, Father Hatch delivered some chilling prayersand as soon as the cars were cleared from the pitch JonathanSimpson took over in the commentary box on the top of the

clubhouse. The action was fast and furious, but Barbados edgedhome 9-7 to take the Mercedes Benz Trophy, thanks to theoutstanding play of StephenWilliams, Danny Atwell, Kent Coleand Harry Manning.The Villages Club were also popular visitors and their long

association with local polo was perpetuated through thepresence of Lord Lyall, Greg Hinkson, Jim Power, Andy Moran,Ed Davis, Craig Wheeler, Joel Baker and Ron Allen. Ron alsotook the time to join Jonathan in the commentary box and hegave the spectators a useful insight into the visitingpersonalities. Jonathan’s sharp wit and raunchy one-liners werealready becoming part of Barbados polo folklore and in onematch he produced a graphic description of a visiting Brazilianplayer as he raced frantically towards the clubhouse-“And here comes puffing and panting Super Mario showing usa face that only a mother could love!”It was classic Jonathan and shades of things to come.Barbados beat Cheshire and continued on a high when a teamfrom Ireland made their visit later in the season. Their teamincluded Brian Lynham, Brendan Boucher, big Larry O’Mahonyand a special guest in the dynamic Jack Kidd. The Celtic Tigerwas never found wanting on and off the polo fields, but despitetheir pluck and exhilarating polo, they still finished second bestto the locals.Diamonds International, Colombian Emeralds, Mercedes

Benz, Veuve Clicquot, Bank’s and Terra Caribbean were theprincipal sponsors, but the popularity of the sport was growingand new sponsors were coming to the fore. On the internationalpolo map, the word was out that Barbados was a great place tovisit.

An amazing decade had opened…

It was fashionable tospend a Sunday

afternoon at Holder’sPolo Field and as the

Barbados tourismfigures rose, so didthe attendances at

polo matches.

The biggest player in the sport of polo

A lot has been said and written about the Hurlingham PoloAssociation (HPA), but many people don’t know who or whatis Hurlingham.Hurlingham is the governing body of polo in the United

Kingdom, Ireland and many countries around the world. Itshoulders a huge responsibility and has a rich heritage thatdates back to the early years of organized polo after British teaplanters discovered it in Manipur in 1850. The game wascertainly played prior to 1850, but it was the British Cavalrybased in India, who embraced it and then took it all aroundthe world.The first polo match played at Hurlingham in London took

place in 1874 and a year later Hurlingham became theheadquarters of polo and, its polo committee drew up the firstset of English rules. The club and the sport had a chequeredhistory during its first 50 years and in 1925 it changed its nameto the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA). The club lost itsground in 1939 to the war effort, but it resurfaced at Cowdrayin 1952.

Today, Hurlingham remains the acknowledged authority onall things polo within its jurisdiction. It manages virtuallyevery aspect of the administration and development of thesport from its office at Little Coxwell, near Faringdon inOxfordshire through an Executive Committee of Stewards andnine sub committees with specific responsibilities. In additionto the UK and Ireland affiliated clubs, the membershipembraces 27 overseas clubs and associations including theBarbados Polo Club.


Hurlingham

Alex Cole & Richard Gooding

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andthewinner is...

A lot of Polo got played during the Barbados2011 polo season... with that came lots ofpresentations and celebrations...

1. Damiani Barbados Open 2011 Winners - OliverWilliams, Tom Morley, Sir Charles Williams, JamieDickson, George Gemmell

2. Africa Challenge Trophy - Kenya Team, Sponsorsand the winning Barbados team - Alex Cole, JamieDickson, Bruce Bayley, Richard Gooding

3. DI International 10 Goal Polo Trophy - SalvadorDuggan, Philip Tempro, Cristian Chavez, MartinJauregui

4. Cheshire Tour - Diamonds Internationalsponsored Cheshire Tour - Team Cheshire receivingthe Trophy after the match at Lion Castle

5. First Citizen 6 Goal Trophy Winners: Trophypresented by First Citizen representatives to SirCharles while Team Apes Hill, George Gemmell,Jamie Dickson, Marc Atwell, Adam Deane look on.

Lucy Taylor is one of the best-knownLadies players in the sport and hastravelled all over the world as aprofessional player. She has strongBarbados connections going back manyyears.

11 WWhhaatt aarree yyoouurr eeaarrlliieesstt rreeccoolllleeccttiioonnss ooff BBaarrbbaaddooss?? Staying at Greensleeves when it was a resort with apartmentsand pool on one side of the road and a Beach Bar on the otherside. There was a lovely waitress called Delsey who used to makemy brother Oli and I “Shirley Temples” which were bright redwith a cherry in! I also recall jogging with my dad from anotherWest Coast holiday home to Mullins Beach Bar. In those daysyou could sit in your scruff and jump off the decking onto thebeach.

22 WWeerree yyoouu wweerree bboorrnn iinnttoo aa ppoolloo ffaammiillyy aanndd wwhhaatt aarree yyoouurreeaarrlliieesstt rreeccoolllleeccttiioonnss ooff ppoonniieess aanndd bbeeiinngg ppaarrtt ooff iitt? When I was born nobody in the family had ridden. But shortlyafterwards Dad took up riding and soon after Dad and Mumbought a new home that was opposite the Cheshire Polo ClubNumber 1 Ground. I was four years old at the time and after Dadstarted riding, we quickly became involved. I still remembersome of my favourite ponies-Jasper Carrot, Double Brandy, andSergeant Pepper, two of whom were very good show jumpers. Itwas only when I outgrew these ponies that I turned to polo.

33 HHaavvee yyoouu aallwwaayyss lloovveedd tthhee eeqquueessttrriiaann sscceennee oorr hhaass iitt bbeeeenn aannaattuurraall pprrooggrreessssiioonn bbeeccaauussee ooff tthhiiss ffaammiillyy bbaacckkggrroouunndd?? I certainly love horses and yes, I’ve loved polo from the time Istarted playing it. However, I’ve no interest in either horseracingor dressage. In fact, I couldn’t get away from dressage fastenough when I was a youngster, possibly as when Dad took meto my first One-Day Event he never told me to learn theDressage Test-I guess he didn’t know it either, but the reactionof the organizers put me off One-Day Eventing for life, and afterthis I stuck to teamchasing, showjumping and later polo.

44 WWhheenn ddiidd yyoouu ddeecciiddee uuppoonn aann eeqquueessttrriiaann ccaarreeeerr?? I probably decided when I was around 19, but it took anotherseven years before I fully managed it after I closed my eventscompany and concentrated on livery, teaching, breeding, and inmore recent times playing professionally after female polo reallytook off.

55 WWhhaatt iiss LLuuccyy TTaayylloorr’’ss nnoorrmmaall sscchheedduullee JJaann--DDeecc eeaacchh yyeeaarr?? I’m not sure there is anything normal in my polo schedule. Itreally comes down to playing where the best offer comes from.My first tournament in 2012 was in New Zealand, the Deardonat Wanstead Polo Club. Then back to England to get my best UKponies in work before heading off to Barbados. From late Aprilto September I’ll play six to eight games a week, give lessonsand run the UK livery yard. In September last year I played inSingapore, which may be an option this year, but from Octoberto December I plan to play in Argentina.


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AA ffeeww mmoommeennttss wwiitthh LLuuccyy TTaayylloorr

66 WWhheerree ddoo yyoouu lloovveeppllaayyiinngg mmoosstt?? I love England mostbecause I can play on myown horses and on myfavourite polo grounds. Ilove Cowdray Lawns 1and 2 and Ivy Lodge atCirencester.

77 WWhhaatt hhaavvee bbeeeenn tthhee hhiigghhlliigghhttss iinn yyoouurr ccaarreeeerr aanndd hhaavvee tthheerreebbeeeenn aannyy llooww ppooiinnttss?? There have been plenty of both!Winning the Gerald Balding, Holden Whitte, Wilson andBadmington Trophies as an all-female 8-Goal side from 2007to 2009 were all very special, and representing England isalways great fun. Argentina in 2009 was a big favourite as weplayed as an all-female 12-Goal side in a tournament with 80teams. It was a brilliant season and I feel I played some of mybest polo out there. Last year was very successful in the UK onthe female circuit as a Pro because we won every majortournament at Cowdray, Coworth and Ascot with three of myfavourite geldings winning best pony prizes. Two of them werehomebred and that gives you a lot of personal satisfaction. Asfor low points, I vividly remember being knocked out of the 8-Goal Archie David Tournament at Windsor in 2009 after whatwe felt was a bad draw compounded by poor umpiring. It was soexpensive to enter, to basically be knocked out in one game wefelt was biased.

88 WWhheerree ddooeess BBaarrbbaaddooss ffiitt iinnttoo yyoouurr bbuussyy lliiffee tthheessee ddaayyss?? A lot less because of my other commitments. In the past it madesense to come to the island after Argentina and Christmas, butnow New Zealand is a big part of my itinerary so I don’t arriveuntil later. There is no real room for me to either improve inBarbados or earn an income so I see it as a family holiday home,a place I love to visit to get away from the cold.

99 YYoouu hhaavvee bbeeeenn iinnvvoollvveedd iinn ““TThhee BBaattttllee ooff tthhee SSeexxeess”” ffrroomm tthheessttaarrtt.. WWhhaatt iiss tthhee ssppeecciiaall aappppeeaall aass aa ffeemmaallee ppllaayyeerr?? Looking back 11 years when Monique started the tournament itwas a good opportunity to encourage more girls into polo inBarbados. It certainly aroused a lot of interest and I’m sure itimproved the bar profits! Over the decade the typical machoattitude has relaxed and now there are 5-6 girls playing. The yearwe played as an 8-Goal team we showed just how seriouswomen can be given like-for-like handicaps and evenly-matchedponies. We easily beat the men and appreciated the generosityof the pony owners. It is also good to use the tournament tointroduce more girls into the sport and hopefully provideopportunities to travel the world like I’ve had.

1100 YYoouu mmuusstt hhaavvee ssoommee ssppeecciiaall ffrriieennddss iinn BBaarrbbaaddooss?? Yes!! It’s always great to be back and feel at home.

1111 OOuuttssiiddee ppoolloo wwhhaatt ddoo yyoouu ddoo aanndd wwhhaatt aarree yyoouurr iinntteerreessttss bbaacckkiinn EEnnggllaanndd?? Playing polo and organizing the yard is very time consuming sowhen I get some time off at the end of the season I try and catchup with non-polo friends. I also enjoy travelling to places I’venever been before and currently a visit to Perth, Canberra andVenice are top of my radar. If I’m at home in winter I love toteam chase and go to good pubs with big fires for Sunday lunch!

1122 AAnndd wwhhaatt aabboouutt yyoouurr ccuurrrreenntt ssttaattuuss?? YYoouu mmuusstt hhaavvee aa bbuussyyssoocciiaall lliiffee!! My Kiwi boyfriend Jonny also comes to Barbados and he’s themain reason why we are in New Zealand at the start of the year.We don’t really party too much here except when we have friendsvisiting or we are at tournaments. It’s also hard work for Jonnyin New Zealand, whereas Barbados is much more a holiday andmore relaxing.

1133 IInn BBaarrbbaaddooss wwhhaatt ddoo yyoouu ddoo wwhheenn yyoouu aarree nnoott ppaayyiinngg ppoolloo?? I can be found regularly on 2nd Street! There is usually a largemob of us during the Cheshire tour and the “Battle of the SexesTournament”. It can be a long session with boats, bars andbeach! In quieter times I try and catch up with old friends andtry my hand at surfing and skiing.

1144 WWhhaatt aarree yyoouurr ffaavvoouurriittee BBaarrbbaaddooss rreessttaauurraannttss?? Nishi mostly, because I love Sushi. I also love Lone Star, Tides,Atlantis, Juju’s, and Elbow Room for steak.

1155 WWhhaatt ddoo yyoouu tthhiinnkk ooff LLiimmeeggrroovvee aanndd iittss ffaannttaassttiicc sshhooppss??I haven’t spent much time in it since it opened, but I did popinto a very expensive Ralph Lauren shop. It looks great, but Ihave to confess I’m not a big shopper.

1166 WWhhaatt aarree yyoouurr ccuurrrreenntt ppoolloo aanndd ppeerrssoonnaall aammbbiittiioonnss?? Sometimes I feel I’ve had my day because I’ve been so fortunateto have played all over the world, but I still feel I can improve in theUK, especially as my horses continue to get better. It would bewonderful to win a 12-Goal HPA tournament as an all-female teamor personally, to play at a higher level. However, that’s not possiblewithout substantial sponsorship and patronage. Until then I’llcontinue to do my best with my current patrons and resources.

...we showed justhow serious womencan be given like-for-like handicaps andevenly-matchedponies.

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and thewinner is...

The 2011 polo season saw a slow start,with matches cancelled due to the rain,but eventually the sun shone throughallowing some great polo to be played.

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1. The Villages (USA) - Visiting Team CaptainAndy Moran holds the Challenge Trophy for The Villages vs Barbados Tour.

2. Asia Challenge Trophy - Scotia Private ClientGroup Team - Roddy Davis, Adam Deane, Bruce Bayley, Harry Manning receiving their prizes

3. Diamonds International Piaget ‘Battle of theSexes’ - Winning Mens Team: Harry Manning,Philip Atwell, Oliver Williams, Rhys Odle

4. Diamonds International Piaget ‘Battle of theSexes’ - ‘Winning Mens Team’: Damian Luke, TJ Davis, Marc Atwell

5. Diamonds International Jaeger-LeCoultre‘Cheshire Tour’ - Jamie Dickson, Teddy Williams, Sir Charles Williams, Richard Gooding, Oliver Williams

Amel Chamandy is ana c c o m p l i s h e dphotographer/artistwith an impressive

array of involvements and talent that brings something differentfrom the international art community on display for all to viewhere on the island. “My philosophy is to bring energy to theworld of Contemporary Art and develop an awareness and

appreciation of the same,” says Amel. In recent years she hasrekindled her creative in photographic expression and her worksare receiving popular exposure on the international market.

In a way, her extension into Barbados was a naturalprogression given her love and appreciation of the island andits people. The timing could not have been better with theopening of Lime Grove. The Lime Grove’s upscale situation andchic approach to retail and service is a near perfect platform for

Polo aficionados are in for a special treat when they come andvisit the Lime Grove Lifestyle Center in the Saint James Parish ofBarbados. Nestled in this nexus of quality merchandise andservice is Gallery NuEdge. This eclectic and dynamic galleryfeatures the work of many top contemporary artists in an elegantsetting that carries the signature of gallery owner AmelChamandy.

NuEdge Gallery

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the creative expression of Gallery NuEdge. As Amel explains,“The key to good business is to consider the surroundings and

accessibility of that business to its client base. The businessmust be in harmony with its surroundings, and thesurroundings must be in harmony with the business.” The gallery is presently exhibiting art in the form of paintings,

works on paper, sculptures and photography from theContemporary movement. It also plans to display multimediafor art video from early 2012. In addition, the gallery caters tospecific customer requests to complement collection orinvestment from all genres of movement and period. Moreover,it also offers a service of design that is uniquely blended andharmonized with the art aspect of the gallery.Currently on display are works from Cuban artists Alexander

Poll Doval and Kadir Lopez, photography from Amel

Chamandy, paintings from artists Daria Fabbro, Charles Richardand Guillaume Seff, works on paper by Hanna Alpha and mixedmedia by John Bernhard, to name a few. The Gallery is in theprocess of reviewing and acquiring works from local artists thatare “up and coming” that have international appeal. So if you are one of the Kings or spectators of Polo, Gallery

NuEdge offers cutting edge contemporary art with a distinctfocus on discerning taste and surroundings from all corners andcorridors in the field of art and design.

Manager at Gallery NuEdge, Zara Gardner, is available to help you with your enquiries.

Tel.: 246 621 0067 Email: [email protected]

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“We don’t have polo or cricket in Sweden so it was quite achange when I came here. Our top sports are soccer and icehockey so going to my first polo match was a step into theunknown. But what really impressed mewas the similarity with ice hockey and Iwas immediately attracted. Ice hockey is avery physical all-action sport played at afast pace with some big hits. In a way polois much the same, as the action is fast andexciting.”Leif is the Chairman of the Palm Beach

Hotel Group and at their peak he had threehotels under his control. And anyone whoknows this charming Scandinavian will attest to his work ethic,as the company boss leads from the front with a hectic dailyschedule including weekends. It’s a culture he doesn’trecommend and one reason why his Sunday afternoons at polohave so much appeal;

“I know I work too hard, and I know I need to relax away fromthe work-place. Polo is my retreat and over the years I’ve cometo enjoy it more and more because it has both a sporting and a

social culture. An afternoon in thequiet ambience of a polo scene is justabout as relaxing as it gets, and if youare having a glass of wine or a beerwith some friends then it all adds tothe enjoyment and the relaxation.”Leif has not only found personal

enjoyment, but over the years he hasintroduced his family and friends tothe sport, and a number of holiday

guests. He’s very pleased that polo offers another attraction tothe island and that his guests have enjoyed it as much as him;“I doubt if many people come to Barbados specifically for polo,but I know that a lot of visitors who come here end up at polomatches. Many of our guests at the Amaryllis Hotel were

PEOPLE AT POLO…Leif Brandel

Polo is my retreat andover the years I’ve come

to enjoy it more andmore because it hasboth a sporting and a

social culture.

Swedish businessman Leif Brandel has been in the Barbados hospitality industry forover 20 years, and was a convert to polo not long after he came to the island. These dayshe’s a regular Sunday afternoon visitor, but admits it was his curiosity that attractedhim in the first place;

Leif and Maurita

introduced to the game through ourselves, and like myself,they originally went out of curiosity, but have returnedmany times. It can also be a family day out and we’ve takenthe children to matches to enjoy the experience.”Leif has visited all the local polo grounds over the years

and although he goes to more matches at Holder’s Hillthan anywhere else, he does have a favourite;“I really like Clifton! The polo field is set right in the heartof the countryside with magnificent views all the way downto the sea and horses lazing in their paddocks just besidethe pitch. You also get a nice cool breeze and it soothes allthe stress and anxiety of a busy week.”And if this busy hotel owner has one request for the polofields’ owners then it won’t come as a surprise to many polospectators;“I’d like to see more seats and tables around the grounds.It would add to the atmosphere and people could havepicnics without having to operate out of the back of theircars. We sometimes stay for a few drinks after play, but thepolo experience for us is having a nice time with friendsand a few drinks and refreshments watching the game. Itis wonderful afternoon’s entertainment.”

Lucas Nicolao

“The vision for Limegrove was that it wouldn’t just be a buildingor a monolith but that it would create a unique experience forlocals and visitors alike. Beyond being a place to shop,Limegrove is emerging as a true “mixed-use” development—aLifestyle Centre, as we call it,” says Paul Altman, developer ofthe trendy West Coast landmark.With three main hubs of activity—the Caribbean, Palm and

Water Courtyards—Limegrove is an architectural statement asmuch as it is a lifestyle one. The stunning location is a mix of

contemporary, Spanish-inspired and island design. The GroveResidences also feature prominently with eight Hillside Villas,ideal for loft living in a uniquely Caribbean way.

A Shopper’s Treasure Trove

Having first opened in the 2010 holiday season, Limegrovedelivers luxury global brands alongside mid-range shopping.Fashion and beauty aficionados are at home here among

Right in the heart of Holetown, Limegrove Lifestyle Centre has emerged asBarbados’ most exciting shopping and lifestyle destination. With a hip energyunparalleled elsewhere on the island—and unmatched few places in theCaribbean—Limegrove has ushered in a bold era of contemporary living.

Lifestyle redesigned at Limegrove


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retailers—from A|X Armani Exchange to Cartier, Louis Vuittonto M.A.C. to Ralph Lauren. Smaller clothing and accessoriesboutiques also make fashion shopping delightful with their mixof indie brands and international labels that together pack agreat style punch. And it doesn’t end with fashion. The Hallmark Card Store is

a convenience for gift-givers, while stores like Kitchen Sync andVilleroy & Boch offer practical and stylish items for the home. Gallery NuEdge is a must-see for art fans, with its eclectic and

dynamic signature pieces from the globe’s most sought-oughtartists.

More than Retail Therapy

Just one look around and it is easy to see why Limegrove isgaining a reputation for being more than a mall.

For example, Glo Spa and Salon, a full-service beautydestination overlooking the Water Courtyard, makes for a

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soothing alternative to retail therapy. Pure Source, locatednearby, delivers holistic, therapeutic facial and body treatmentsin Wellness Rooms, neatly tucked away from the hive ofshopping activity around the Centre.Other conveniences include Barbados National Bank andPearson’s Pharmacy andPlaycreation, a playgroup-inspiredgetaway for kid-parent dates.

Recreation for Everyone

Not just kids but all age groups mayfind Limegrove Cinemas welcomeentertainment. The luxury boutiqueattraction gets a thumbs-up for outstanding 3D and audio quality.What’s more, a tiered ticketing system allows patrons tocustomize their viewing experience—from traditional seating toa more exclusive reclining option or dedicated tray service.After regular shopping hours, the Centre’s restaurants along

with the cinemas, create seemingly never-ending activity within

its walls. The chosen venue for the opening of the 2011 BarbadosFood & Wine and Rum Festival, Limegrove’s eateries’ menusare dotted with Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, fresh gourmettreats, made-to-order natural juices and smoothies, Italiancuisine and desserts, and more.

This wide selection of farecombines with Limegrove’sinviting ambience to make it apremier event venue. From its on-trend rooftop deck to Courtyardsand other customizable spaces,event hosts are making the WestCoast location a popular choice forexclusive entertaining.

Having only recently opened, such is its lifestyle appeal thatLimegrove tops the list of Barbados’ must-see attractions—forvisitors, locals and Barbadians at heart. Loaded with optionsfrom shopping to dining to entertainment, there is no doubtsomething for everyone at what is shaping up to be the island’strendiest West Coast landmark.

From its on-trend rooftop deck to Courtyards and other

customizable spaces, event hosts aremaking the West Coast location a

popular choice for exclusive entertaining.

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Martin Ince and his wife Claire are regular spectatorsat polo matches in Barbados, but outside the poloaction Martin sees many polo people in business ashe the dynamic CEO of Foster and Ince the island’sexperts in the Cruise Industry. Martin has plenty ofuseful information to share on this rapidly growingbusiness…


Cruising 101Martin Ince with his wife Claire Ince onboardRoyal Caribbean’s ‘Allure of the Sea’s with

the Captain.

Cruising has become very popular over the past decade. Whathas brought about this huge change?Cruising is certainly the fastest growing leisure segment globallyfor holidaymakers in the last 10 years. This transformation hasbeen driven by value for money, the ease of visiting multipledestinations, the phenomenal on-board experience, safety andsecurity, and the stunning luxurious ships.

Your company specializes in cruises. What sets you apart?Foster & Ince has been involved in the cruise Industry for 45years and through our Foster & Ince CruiseWorld retailbranches we have built an in-depth knowledge of the industryand a terrific sales team that genuinely cares about clients. OurConsultants have all cruised and enjoyed the experience. Theyalso know the ships intimately and can specifically tailor any cruiseto the client’s needs. This wealth of knowledge and experience isnow available at three branches on the island at Super CentreWarrens, Sheraton Centre Mall and more recently Lime GroveLifestyle Centre. Our excellent sales team is very passionate abouttheir business and so is their totally unbiased CEO!

Many people now cruise to and from Barbados. Does this giveus a big edge in the market as a cruise hub?It certainly does!Barbados is now the second largest homeport in the Caribbeanafter Puerto Rico. We have worked very hard to achieve this highranking through the support of so many of the various entitiesin Barbados. We also have a number of UK and European cruiselines that utilize Barbados as their home for their ship duringthe winter months, and similarly we have some up-market USA-based ships that also use Barbados as their base for fullpassenger exchanges periodically through the season. All of thisactivity combines with airlift into the island, as well as hotelstays just before the cruise and just after the cruise to make amajor contribution to the local economy. For Barbadians thismeans that Foster & Ince Cruiseworld can offer specials andsome amazing rates on the higher end ships such as - Seabornecruises, Azamara cruises, Crystal cruises, Silversea, SeaDreamYacht Club and Windstar.We also have our Carnival Victory weekly sailings from Barbadosand we can also confirm, that after many years of asking, Royal

Caribbean has opened boarding in Barbados for their San Juanbased ships. This means a one-way flight to or from San Juan andadds another popular addition to our range of facilities.

The younger set has always viewed cruising as the domain ofthe old and leisurely. Is this image still accurate?The wonderful thing about the cruise industry is that it caters toalmost every need of the traveler including all ages. The newships now come with bowling alleys, ice skating rinks, surfingmachines, Wii screens (that are 100 ft by 100 ft). Each time anew ship comes out they try to raise the bar from the last shipand the standard continues to rise. Disney launched their newship with paintings that can now be adjusted and changedwhere the kids can actually change the painting, they also havethe largest slide at sea. The new Royal Caribbean 'Allure of theSeas' is something very special and I speak from first-handexperience. The cruise industry now caters to all ages across aglobal market.

What's new in the cruising industry in 2012? Where are the bestcruises?2012 offers more new ships at attractive prices and stunningglobal itineraries. The Fall Colours from New York up to Canadacontinues to be attractive and visits the smaller towns and areasalong the US/Canada Waterway and Discovering Europe on aCruise ship continues to be very popular. Foster & Ince is nowpartnering with Virgin Atlantic to offer some attractive faresthrough Cruiseworld to join the ships that are UK based. Thetraditional Caribbean cruising is still very popular as more andmore locals discover the beauty of neighbouring islands.Cruising out of Miami and Fort Lauderdale offers a wide rangeof itineraries and we all know Barbadians love to combine acruise with some shopping in Miami.

And what are the best ships?This is a hard question as they are all stunning. Carnival Cruiseline continues to be the Fun Ships and having the CarnivalVictory leaving Barbados every Wednesday is a special addedbonus. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity also offer joining fromBarbados on select ships. Norwegian Cruise Line recentlylaunched their Norwegian Epic, which now has this company

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up there with the bestof the Global brandsand they offer awonderful range offacilities and on-boardentertainment. InNovember 2011 weattended the launch of

the new Celebrity Equinox out of New York and this new Solsticeclass ship is truly special, but very affordable luxury. The up-market lines of Silversea, SeaBourn, Windstar, Crystal cruises,Seadream, Oceania and Azamara offer the unique pampering ofa small ship experience. P&O cruises offer traditional cruisingluxury as does the Cunard Line which has a long love affair withBarbados. Fred Olsen has a very strong following with Barbadianswho travel on her every year. There is also Princess cruises,Holland America, Thomson Cruises which we offer cruises onfrom ports around the World. Then of course you have theEuropean brands such as AIDA, Costa Crociere, MSC, TUICruises - these all give a really European flair to the cruisingIndustry. If you want a taste of Italy or Germany take a cruise onthese brands. Ships now try and cater to as wide a range of consumer as

possible - from Grand suites to one-bedroom inside cabins, asthe price range caters to people that have varying incomes.

The polo season runs from January to May. Does cruising havea season?The Global Cruise Industry has no season - the ships are alwayscruising in popular areas all year round. When the ships leaveBarbados they cruise all over the World. The best time to seeAlaska is during the summer months when the weather is at its

best. The Fjords in Norway is a popular destination also duringthe summer as is Europe. South America is popular year round.We are offering some excellent rates to cruise in China and inthe Asian areas for most of the year. We can guide you right herefrom Barbados. Although you are not seeing the ships comingand going from Barbados we continue to make bookings fromthe global ports where they are based.

Is it better to wait for a good deal or book early to avoiddisappointment?Two words - Book Early! If you like to plan I suggest that youbook early to avoid disappointment. When a cruise line offerscruises for sale they are offered all around the World - 24 hoursa day. Until you make the first deposit to hold the cabin its opengame from cruise agencies everywhere.Foster & Ince CruiseWorld has a long-standing trusted name inthe Cruise Industry globally and we normally can get rates andcabin selection guaranteed within 24 hours. We are proud to saythat we have never let any customers down in 45 years and weplan to continue this legacy. My parting words of advice to all Barbadians who are lookingfor an unforgettable holiday experience is to allow the team atFoster & Ince CrusieWorld to partner with you from the start ofyour cruise journey. We will guide and steer you to ensure thatwhat you experience on board is above and beyond yourexpectations. Unfortunately in the modern cruising environment there aremany horror stories from direct bookings over the Internet, sothere is a lot to be said for placing your trust in the people youknow that are at the core of the industry and know it inside out!Call us at Foster and Ince CruiseWorld for a personal servicesecond to none.

Ships now try and cater toas wide a range of consumer

as possible - from Grandsuites to one-bedroom

inside cabins, as the pricerange caters to people that

have varying incomes.

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Polo Wines Across the Globe


Top class polo is like top class wine and perhaps it is noaccident that some of the great wine centres in the worldhave also produced some of the most outstanding poloplayers. Thanks to Wine World we can have authenticrecommendations as to the most popular wines on offerthis season. Please note the prices are quoted for 12-bottlecases (VAT included).

And where else to start, but in Argentina, the mecca ofinternational polo?

ArgentinaArgentina has 18 of the top 20 professional players in the world including Pablo MacDonoughranked #1 and Adolfo Cambiasco ranked #2, but rated by many as the best player.

Catena Malbec $35.92Dark Ruby red it delivers an alluring bouquet of Asian spices, incense, lavender and black cherry.Alamos Viognier $21.84A fine white wine at an excellent price.

ChileThe top polo player in Chile is Jamie Garcia Huidobro who is ranked #29 in the world.

Santa Rita Reserva Chardonnay $25.76Founded in 1880, the Viña Santa Rita cellars are located in the best wine growing lands of Chile.

New ZealandThe Hawkes Bay Polo Club stages the Annual Wine Country Polo Tournament every December and both the polo and the wine combine to make it a great event.

Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc $42.39The flavour is exuberant, brimming with flavours of pineapple, passion fruit, stone fruit and a hint of herbaceousness. The finish is zesty and lingering.

AustraliaThe late Kerry Packer really put Australian polo on the world map, although it has been played in the former British Colony since 1870.

Wirra Wirra Scrubby Rise Shiraz $35.35Named as only an Australian could name it, this South Australian red is “spicy, full bodied and delicious.”

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USA Barbados has strong connections with US Polo through its long association with the Villages Polo Club in Florida. Polo dates back almost 150 years in America.

Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling $29.91Founded in 1934 Chateau Ste Michelle has pioneered vinifera grape growing in Washington State. They are now amongst the best wines in the world.Red Diamond Merlot $31.11A classic red from Washington State and very popular throughout America.Castle Rock Pinot Noir $32.71One of the oldest known grape varieties this red remains a huge favourite with traditional wine lovers.

Spain Polo is played in Spain all year round and the famousSotogrande Polo Club offers a wide range of polo facilitiesincluding tailored polo holidays.

Christalino Brut $24.87This sparkling wine is a big favourite in Barbados. Clean, dry and crisp with citrus and apple flavours.Santiago Ruíz Albariño $44.24Santiago Ruíz dates back to the 17th century. An aromatic and intense nose featuring floral and tropical fruit nuances.Lan Crianza $32.63Delightful red. Texture is generous yet delicate. Not heavy, but vivacious.

FranceThere are polo clubs all over France, but hundreds morevineyards. For many people France is the capital of the Wine World.

Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais Villages $30.56A huge favorite from one of the most important wine lands in Burgundy. Dates back to 1880s and the historic cellars of the Dukes of Burgundy. Domaines Bunan Belouvé Côtes de Provence Rosé $41.85‘Belouvé’ means ‘good grape’ and Belouvé is an old 18th CenturyCountry House that once belonged to an order of monks. It was rebuilt by the Bunans in 1978.Bouchard Père et Fils Mâcon Lugny St. Pierre $40.60Beautiful white from winemakers with 250 years heritage.

ItalyThe Rome Polo Club was founded in 1934 and is the is oldest polo club in Italy. Wine has a much longer history.

Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio $35.83Is this the most popular white wine consumed in Barbados. A simple ‘yes’ says it all!Ruffino Chianti Superiore $31.73Vibrant and inviting this delightful red is a fitting legacy to Illario and Leopoldo Ruffino the founding fathers of Ruffino in the heart of Tuscany in 1877.


Remember you savea lot when you

buy a case of 12. Enjoy!

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Sponsors‘in Action’

The 2011 Barbados Polo Season saw the forgingof new relationships with some excitingsponsorship from Bajan Services, Archers Halland First Citizen. Diamonds International,Colombian Emerald and Digicel continued toremain loyal to the sport of polo and VIP guestswere treated to wonderful afternoons of flowingdrinks, food and polo.

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What is your polo / equestrian background?My mother’s family have always been in polo. I have been aroundhorses all my life for as long as I can remember.

Where where you born and did you grow up around horses andpolo?I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. My Grandfather EnriqueDuggan was a professional 8-goal polo player. He won theArgentine Open twice playing for a team called El Trebol.

How did you end up in Barbados?A friend of mine called Ignacio Toccalimo was meant to come andwork with Philip Tempro, but he could not make it so he asked meto come instead.

What is your current position?I currently spend the polo season in Barbados working for PhilipTempro where I train and play his ponies and I also oversee thestables. I then go back to Argentina for their polo season where Ihave my own ponies that I play and I manage and ride for IgnacioToccalimo.

Have you worked at other things or has it always been polo?It has always been polo. I do not know anything else. I have beenworking in polo since I was 16.

Salvador‘Chulo’SanchezDugganKnown for his flamboyant hair and wickedsmile. Chulo as he is called by his friends canbe heard most afternoons at Polo both on andoff the field. Polo Barbados sat down withthis 26 year old Argentine to get a littleinsight into what he is all about....


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What are your career ambitions?I would like to stay around horses and improve my polohandicap. I would also like to travel some more too. Sofar my work has taken me to Spain, England, France andBarbados.

Do you get to play much here in Barbados?Yes I get to play here, but I play more in Argentina as Ihave more chances to play having my own horses.

Favourite horse in your stables where you currently work?There are a few but I would have to say Mutafa, a 10 year

- old gelding. But I do not get to playhim. I also like Thor because he iscomfortable and handy and then thereis Esperanza, she is small and has nicemovement. I play both of them mostof the season. In Argentina myfavourite is Uva. She is a 9 year - old,dark bay mare that I bred. She doeseverything that I ask of her.

What do you like most about BarbadosPolo?I get to have fun and enjoy playing.

Would you like to see anythingchanges in the polo scene?Ha ha, nah, I am not going to get intothat !!! Maybe less rain, it is very

frustrating when we have the ponies ready to play andwe cannot because the fields are too wet. But that is notin our control, no?

Who is your favourite polo player?An Argentine player called: Juan Martin Nero

Lastly, Where does the nickname come from?My nickname was given to me by my mother’s sister. Itdoes not have a meaning in Argentina, but in Spain itmeans ‘bad boy for the girls’ :)


Salvador’s family home in Argentina

Left to Right: Philip Tempro, Danny Atwell, Salvador Duggan, TJ Davis

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Behind the ScenesP O L O B A R B A D O S

Many visitors to Barbados mix their polo with horseracing and this is perfectly natural giventhe synergies between the two equestrian disciplines. Polo people have always been very closeto their friends at the Barbados Turf Club and some leading personalities are at the forefrontof both codes.

The Pageantry ofThe Turf Club


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Horse-racing at the Garrison dates back to the 1840s wherethe British cavalry officers and the local planters raced offagainst each other in challenge stakes. These were popular

exchanges and on the big race days virtually everyone went tothe races at the Garrison Savannah.

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Polo was brought tothe island by thecavalry, who firstdiscovered it inIndia. It hadhumble beginningssince most of thefocus was onhorseracing, and allthe polo ponies wereex-racers that didn’tmake the grade. Thepolo fraternity grew

at a much more leisurely pace than racing and it neverthreatened to compete with the crowds that flocked to theGarrison on Race Days.The Barbados Turf Club at the Garrison was formed in 1906and has moved on to bigger and better things. The highlight oftheir busy racing calendar is the Sandy Lane Gold Cup Festival,but throughout the year each of the three seasons is packed withbig races and top class events. The Barbados Guineas is thefirst leg of the Triple Crown followed by the Creole Classic andculminating in the United Insurance Barbados Derby. The Turf

Club goes to greatlengths to encourage local breeders

and Diamonds International, the principal sponsors ofpolo, also play a pivotal role in promoting local breeding with thelucrative challenge series for West Indian bread two-year-olds.The Garrison Savannah is situated on the South Coast, just

outside Bridgetown at Hastings, close to St Ann’s Fort. Many ofthe surrounding buildings portray military heritage and theNational Canon Collection sits ominously on the perimeter withall its guns pointing across the track.The racetrack is six furlongs in size and races up to 11 furlongsare run off a clockwise direction. The Finishing Post sits infront of the main grandstand and near the hospitality boxes.Although many locals love the fun and relaxed atmospherearound the course, the final furlong has produced some greatfinishes and excitement, especially in the Gold Cup, thepremier race in the Eastern Caribbean. Leading polo personalities Sir Charles Williams and Bruce

Bayley are big in local horseracing, while Barbados Polo ClubCaptain Richard Deane is a leading trainer.These days few racing ponies move to polo, as the leading polostables prefer to develop ponies specifically for polo, or importthem from leading polo countries like Argentina. However, thatdoesn’t lessen the closeness of the two sports and you can beassured that plenty of horseracing people come to watch poloand just as many polo people watch the racing. Long may it continue!

The Barbados Turf Club atthe Garrison was formed in1906 and has moved on to

bigger and better things. Thehighlight of their busy racing

calendar is the Sandy LaneGold Cup Festival,

HOLDERS POLO FIELD

LION CASTLE POLO FIELD

APES HILL POLO FIELD

CLIFTON POLO FIELD

How To Get There

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Holders Polo Field - Telephone: 432 1802 ( Landline with recorded updates)Should you not receive the information that you require from this recording you can send an email to: [email protected]

Lion Castle Polo Field - Telephone: 622 POLO or 622 7656. ( Landline with recorded updates)Should you have any further queries related to Lion Castle Clubhouse such as rental information for Weddings, private parties etc. - Email: [email protected]

Apes Hill Polo Field - Telephone: 262 3780 Sara Dickson.Should you have any further queries related to Apes Hill Polo Clubhouse such as rental information for weddings, private parties etc. - Email: [email protected]

Clubs Contact Information



2011Memories

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Some unforgettable moments fromthe 2011 Barbados Polo Season...

ON AND OFF THE FIELD

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Polo Barbados 2012

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