Guards Polo Club teamed up with La Martina in Argentina to co-host a competitive tournament for the UK club’s players, La Martina ambassadors and members of the Novillo Astrada family. Three teams took to the field at the La Aguada Polo Club and Resort to win the Guards Polo Club Trophy, which was last played for in 2018, and lives permanently at the La Aguada clubhouse.
The Guards Navy team featuring Arno Liu, Lia Salvo, Adolfo Casabal and Nacho Novillo Astrada, emerged victorious after a hotly contested, round-robin style tournament. This was made up of six chukkas featuring all three teams. James Neighbour, Guards Polo Club’s Chief Operating Officer and Adrian Simonetti, President of La Martina, presented all the prizes, ably supported by Thomas Hume, Polo Manager of La Aguada.
Following the presentations, Adrian Simonetti, whose father Lando founded La Martina, said: “What a pleasure it is for La Martina to be back here at La Aguada, to gather our friends here from Guards Polo Club and be so warmly welcomed by the Novillo Astrada family. I have been particularly delighted to welcome James Neighbour from Guards Polo Club to Argentina and have the opportunity to show him the Argentine polo season at its very best and for James to experience all that Argentina has to offer to the wider polo community. We very much look forward to making this tournament a yearly event and to welcoming many more patrons, friends and members from Guards Polo Club to Argentina in the future.”
James also thanked La Martina, La Aguada and all the friends of Guards Polo Club here at La Aguada for such a warm welcome, as well as the Club patrons who had so generously supported the tournament. “I have been overwhelmed by the warm reception that I have received on this, my first visit to Argentina. The day here at La Aguada in particular has been outstanding and I would like to thank Adrian Simonetti, Becky Simpson and Thomas Hume for creating such a friendly yet competitive event in such beautiful surroundings. I hope that our Club players, like me, will return to Guards Polo Club inspired and impatient for our new season to begin.”
Highlighting the camaraderie on and off the field of play, which is a hallmark of this tournament, the presentations were followed by a traditional asado for players and spectators as the sun set over La Aguada’s magnificent polo fields.
TEAMS
Guards Blue: Arno Liu (0); Lia Salvo (2); Adolfo Casabal (3); Nacho Novillo Astrada (8).
Guards Green: Iyad Omari (0); Hamid Ali (3); Malcolm Borwick (5); Alejandro Novillo Astrada (7).
Guards Maroon: Enrico Meneghetti (-1); Satinder Garcha (2); Antonino Menard (5); Miguel Novillo Astrada (8).
Pictures copyright Alice Gipps
