The KLAPtomaniacs

Peter

3 years ago

Coach Agha Khan and I created a concept tournament called the KLAP-KLPC Polo Challenge Cup, where we played with one Pro with three amateurs of -1 and -2 handicaps in a team. The rules were that the Pro could not go past the half-way line, and therefore could not shoot any penalties at goal, other than the 5B. It meant the amateurs had to actually make the plays themselves, rather than relying on the pros to win the game for them.

It was a really fun weekend.

There were five teams in the tournament. Many KL Academy of Polo grads played, which was fantastic, as it was created for them to play.

My KLAPtomaniacs were made up of Emily Cheah, who won the Most Valuable Player award, Ben Palmer, and on Saturday we played with Mira Ajib and on Sunday with Datuk Kannan.

On Saturday we were beaten by La Familia, who played with two Argentinians in their side. Camote Bachmann got both goals.

On Sunday, the KLAPtomaniacs were expected to struggle in the Subsidiary Cup, but we managed to pull off a win by penalties over Tyrants Polo. Ben Palmer was the hero, with the winning penalty, after Kannan, Emily and he had scored earlier to match the Tyrants. In our second match, we held The Sound Machine scoreless, to win that match by the ½ goal we got on handicap.

Coach Agha Khan was playing for the Tyrants, of whom Amir, Kayser and Dato’ Sri Raza Khan had learned their polo basics at KL Academy of Polo. Playing on other teams were Kuhan Kumaran (The Sound Machine), Tengku Reyad Baderul (La Familia), Tengku Ryan Baderul (T Satrias) and Isabelle Sayeed (T Satrias). All have come through the ranks of KLAP’s instructional chukkas.

With most of our ponies going out to our players, and giving them first pick, I was left with Codiciada. I couldn’t have been happier. On Sunday, no one got past Codiciada. She is still only 9 years old, having been landed here at age 5 in 2019.

Emily played Coyo (also a 9-year-old) and Angel. Ben got his first taste of Gausteo, and loved him so much he didn’t play Rulito at all. Mira played Cafre on Saturday, and when Datuk Kannan played on Sunday, he played really well on Capo, also a horse I had chosen in the original batch from Argentina.

Amir Khan had Gatillo (11-year-old), and Agha Khan had Ilolay (Lola) and Picaflor (9-year-old). I’m very to say all our KL Academy of Polo ponies played really well.

Many of our KLAP students have graduated on to buying their own ponies. None of them sought my help. Some of their purchases have worked out, but I am dismayed to watch them struggle sometimes. Some struggle to ride the horses they have bought. Some horses struggle.

Buying an older model is a good idea – a horse that knows more than you help you progress. But older models sometimes have wear and tear problems. Even old Ferraris break down. Unlike a Ferrari, you can’t just go to the workshop and fit a new part. What do you do then?

At what age is a horse too old? Polo is a physical game. More so for the horses, than for us players.

As the poet Robert Frost wrote, “Take care to sell your horse before he dies. The art of life is passing losses on.” Only buy an old horse if you are prepared to be its last owner.

Fortunately for the KLAPtomaniacs, we didn’t have those problems. Our string of horses was probably the youngest playing in the subsidiary cup. Did it make a difference? I’d like to think so.

Mitavite Asia sponsored two bags of Zack’s Tack Polo Mix for the Best Playing Pony Prize, which went to Tengku Ryan and Tengku Reyad’s Tobo, a recent import from Argentina.

Zack’s Tack and KL Academy of Polo sponsored some nice prizes with crystal horse heads or gilt horseshoes mounted on plaques.

For me, it was great satisfaction to play and win the Transtheme Cup, with my KLAPtomaniacs, on our KL Academy of Polo ponies. We walk the talk.