The end of the season is a good time for reflection and for treatment, rest and recuperation both for players and for horses. I was lucky enough to steal a few days away in Cornwall at the end of August, which despite the cold weather was heaven on earth. I learnt a new word: “narly”, used by the surfing crowd, and our party had competitions in who could acquire the most “narly” item at the surf shop.

Rest is important for us, but also for the horses and the grooms who have been working so hard to look after them. The importance of post-season vet-checks and assessing which horses need treatments and proper roughing-off is paramount to them having a good winter and coming in well for the beginning of next season.

All the “i”s need to be dotted and “t”s crossed at this stage of the season to ensure the wellness of the horses and the longevity of each horse’s playing career. Knowing when to finish the season on each horse is also important, to avoid playing horses that are over-tired or stale.

Striking a deal

Next year’s deals are also done at this stage and while there are no massive transfers —such as Angel Di Maria’s €75m transfer to Manchester United or salaries like that of Colombia’s Radamel Falcoa — there are quite a few teams that have already concreted their plans.

The big league teams like Zacara, El Remanso, Talandracas, King Power and Dubai are always clever in getting the deals done quickly and ensuring they get the line-up that they want. This gives them more time to spend organising the build-up period and the players can source horses earlier.

I can remember Carlos Gracida trying six-year-old thoroughbreds in August in England, knowing how many horses he needed for his team the following year and then preparing them well over the winter and having five extra horses for the season already acclimatised. This can only be done if the team is made early.

I gather that Jerome Wirth’s Enigma is not playing next season, which is sad after such a good season this year and a good run over the last few years, narrowly missing out on the Queen’s Cup in 2011.

King Power is fielding a second team, so it is not only building up its premiership football side Leicester City, but also both polo teams.They have taken on the world number one Facundo Pieres to play alongside his brother Gonzalito and Top [Srivaddhanaprabha] — who was the leading amateur player in this year’s Gold Cup.

There have been lots of exciting moves and there are still some big organisations — namely Black Bears — yet to put their cards on the table. There are still some top players available and the market is reasonable as a result of this.

At the moment there is no transfer window like in football and in other sports. Maybe the governing body should bring one in? Would this then help the sport to become more organised and sponsor-friendly? It would inhibit the last minute teams — but are these teams good for the sport?

The future’s bright

August — being the main part of the school holidays — is when the Pony Club polo sets sail. It was a pity that bad weather hampered the finals at Cowdray but I have been so impressed by the level of play shown by the younger players — and also by the commitment of the parents to get them well-mounted and into good polo at an early age.

The future is bright for the level of the sport in this country.

Column first published in Horse & Hound magazine on Thursday 18 September, 2014

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Luke Tomlinson is to stand down as captain after a nine-year stint, marking the beginning of a new era for English polo.

The announcement was made after Britain’s defeat to Argentina in the Coronation Cup last month (26 July).

Fellow seven-goaler James Beim will now take over the reins as captain.

“It wasn’t a difficult decision,” Luke told H&H. “I started to think about it last year.

“I have had a good innings. Now James and my brother Mark both deserve a term of leadership.”

During his tenure as captain Luke secured four Coronation Cup victories and two Westchester Cup wins.

“The English setup has come a long way since I started in terms of the organisation behind the scenes, sponsorship and the quality and knowledge of the coaches,” Luke said.

“I think the future is very bright.”

Despite relinquishing his role as captain, Luke still hopes to be involved in the England setup.

“If I am selected I would still be keen to play,” Luke added.

First published in Horse & Hound magazine on 7 August 2014

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H&H columnist Luke Tomlinson has been named captain of the England polo team against the USA in defence of the Westchester Cup at Guards (28 July), which was last contested in 2009.

Making up the 28-goal quartet are James Beim, Luke’s younger brother Mark and New Zealander John Paul Clarkin. The traditions of this fixture dictate that a Commonwealth player can be included.

The Westchester Cup forms part of the Audi International series, in which England plays Australasia, USA and South Africa.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (18 July 2013)

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The world’s first inter-club polo league will kick off next summer in the UK. The eight leading polo clubs contesting the Polo Premier League will be Guards, Beaufort, Cowdray Park, Royal County of Berkshire, Ham, Cirencester, Hurtwood and Kirtlington.

England captain Luke Tomlinson said the league was “superb way of taking the game to new audiences and developing the next generation of players”.

“The senior England squad are fully behind the launch of the Polo Premier League and look forward to playing an instrumental role in its success and on-going management,” he added.

Rod Kohler, head of PR at Polo Premier League, said that the league is going through “an exciting period in its development”, with a new website just launched. The website will feature the world and UK club news, league fixtures and interviews with key players as well as the facility to buy event tickets.

“Our website will give polo fans a real taste for what the League is all about,” said Rod. “Our activity will certainly step up a gear as the 2013 summer polo season approaches, and we look forward to many more exciting announcements in the coming months.”

The overall title sponsor has yet to be announced.

Visit www.polopremierleague.com

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Luke Tomlinson and John Paul Clarkin will lead their respective countries — England and New Zealand — in the Coronation Cup next Sunday (25 July).

Held as the showcase match on the Hurlingham Polo Association’s Cartier International Day, the tally currently stands at 3:1 to England with wins for the home team in 1982, 1983 and 2006.

The visitors last won in 1991 but come to this match fresh from beating England in New Zealand earlier in the year.

So they will be keen to repeat that feat here on The Queen’s Ground at Guards Polo Club.

England will field the same team that faced the mighty Argentines last year and defeated an impressive Australian team in 2008.

Joining Luke on the Audi-sponsored squad is his brother Mark Tomlinson (7 goals), James Beim (7) and Malcolm Borwick (6).

The New Zealand team has a slightly different line-up from earlier in the year.

Simon Keyte (7) is back from injury and takes his place in the EFG International-sponsored New Zealand team, alongside Tommy Wilson (6) and Sam Hopkinson (6), who is making his debut at this event.

There are still a few tickets left. To buy yours, tel: 01784 437797 or book online at www.guardspoloclub.com

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H&H columnist Luke Tomlinson has been named the most outstanding British professional at the Audi Polo Awards.

The awards took place at the Park Lane Hilton in London last Monday (17 May).

Two Hurlingham Polo Association [HPA] lifetime achievement awards were also given on the night.

The first went to Lord Patrick Beresford, a former five-goal player who took part in the first Cartier International in 1972. In the 1990s he set up the Polo Pony Welfare committee and is the current chairman.

The other was given posthumously to the late Gerald Balding, the only British 10-goal player since the war and father of trainers Ian and Toby, and the grandfather of BBC presenter Clare and racehorse trainer Andrew.

Other awards went to:

Polofix most outstanding high goal team — La Bamba de Areco

Cartier most outstanding high goal patron — Jean Francois Decaux

Audi Polo Awards most outstanding high goal professional — Gonzalito Pieres

The Polo Magazine most outstanding medium handicapped player — Nachi du Plessis

The Turtle Island most outstanding low handicapped player — Ollie Cudmore

The Audi most outstanding British professional — Luke Tomlinson

The Pommery most outstanding lady professional — Nina Clarkin

The Longdole Polo Club most outstanding arena team — Equibuild

The Kerry Packer most outstanding high goal pony — Shannon

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A veteran polo player and construction magnate from the Caribbean is giving British polo a major boost by backing a home-grown squad, led by England captain and H&H columnist Luke Tomlinson, to play high-goal next season.

Sir Charles “Cow” Williams, 73, a former four-goaler, will be the non-playing patron of his team, Apes Hill Club Barbados. Sir Charles and an American colleague are funding the team to the tune of more than $1million, to promote their new holiday home complex. The sponsorship is the biggest in British polo to date.

“I was watching this year’s Gold Cup final at Cowdray and was so disappointed to see English talent sitting in the stands. I knew then that something should be done,” said Sir Charles, who played in England in the 1970s and 1980s and still plays at home.

The team also fields Mark Tomlinson, who joined his brother on seven goals recently; five-goal Tom Morley, who made his senior England debut in August, and three-goal Ed Hitchman, best young player of 2005. Luke and Mark were among just a handful of British pros employed by a high-goal patron for the full 2006 season.

Apes Hill will play England’s two most important tournaments, the Queen’s and Gold Cups, and its players will be paid the market rate. The team, which has yet to settle on a coach, will be based at Beaufort Polo Club.

“We’re proud to be part of Sir Charles’s plan,” said Luke Tomlinson. “We hope the support, training and attention our team will receive will be a benchmark for other corporate sponsors entering the sport.”

David Woodd, chief executive of the Hurlingham Polo Association, said: “This is tremendous news. It’s tough to get on a high-goal team, but particularly for British players.”

• This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (9 November, ’06)

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