KL Academy of Polo’s Coaching Director Andrew Gebbie arrived in Kuala Lumpur this week. He has already started work, getting the eight KL Academy of Polo ponies into acclimatisation and fitness work. Andrew will be at The Tack Room Garage Sale tomorrow, so if anyone wants to meet him, please come by between 10 am and 2 pm on Easter Sunday.
We have some amazing pre-loved items at the Garage Sale. There is a Stuebben Siegfried All Purpose Saddle, a Stuebben Scandica II Jumping Saddle, Cavallo Top Boots, a western saddle, at least four polo saddles, horse boots, authentic team shirts, knee guards, and plenty of bits and pieces.
Zack’s Tack and the Royal Selangor Polo Club will have some coffee and cakes, but otherwise this is simply a community project.
Unfortunately, the second RSPC League tournament which ended last weekend was rain affected. It started a day later than scheduled, and only a rotation of three games could be completed with Saturday’s games being rained off after 1 ½ chukkas played. The tournament’s order of merit was decided on the qualifying league results, which were completed on Sunday 14th April.
Cassidy & Co started best, pulling off a bit of an upset to beat Gold Chin in our opening game. We beat Windhorse AT6 TU Jogo Polo to lead the tournament, but Pre-celebrations was all I got. A disastrous final chukka against Kelantan put paid to our chances.
Gold Chin came back from their defeat to Cassidy & Co to notch wins over Kelantan and Windhorse AT6 TU Jogo Polo, but it was not enough to win the tournament. Kelantan, Gold Chin and Cassidy & Co each finished with a 2 win & 1 loss record. It took goal difference to separate the three teams, with Kelantan coming out tops.
With that, the first part of the tournament season is over. We won’t have any more tournaments till after Raya (Eid). It starts up again with the RSPC League 3 at the end of June.
I am looking forward to going to the Royal Tour of Chitral and the Shandur Polo Festival in early July. It is something that has taken five years of planning. It is a truly special tour, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Although the RMPA had recently announced a new handicap range of 6 to 8 goals, it was asked to reconsider this range by a number of the committed high goal teams. With some teams asking for the handicap range to remain at 10 to 14, and also interest in the 6 to 8 goal handicap range, RMPA has decided to run both leagues concurrently. Both leagues would be played in the Klang Valley, at the Royal Selangor Polo Club and Taman Ekuestrian Putrajaya.
Malaysia has reconsidered and is going to participate in the 30th South East Asian Games polo in Calatagan, Philippines at the end of the year. Philippines decision to join the FIP has been a factor in this change of heart. After a few changes, the Polo Federation of the Philippines has finally settled on two divisions: The A Division is 4 to 7 goals, and the B division is 0 to 2 goals.
We may have a short break now, but it is going to be an exciting year in Malaysian polo.
