As the RSPC Triple Crown Final gets underway, I shall be at a TD’s meeting in Manila, attending on behalf of FIP, helping to get the SEA Games Polo back on track. Thailand appears to have pulled out, and Singapore polo is rudderless at present. Hosts Philippines will be very happy to have Brunei, Indonesia and now Malaysia back in the games. So with four teams there will be a SEA Games Polo tournament.
Thailand and Brunei had asked for a lower handicap of the A division. After too many changes to be counted, the handicaps of the two divisions have been settled on as:
- A Division: 4 to 6 goals
- B Division: 0 to 2 goals
Despite the change, it was too late for Thailand, who sent their horses home from Johor.
Initially Malaysia was not going to go. The handicap changes weren’t an issue. Sending horses to Philippines and back was proving to be a very expensive logistical nightmare. It was beyond our means.
Malaysia was asked if we would support polo with an entry, if the host country provided the horses to make it happen. And so I am hopping on a flight to Manila today to see what can be done.
On borrowed horses, we know we cannot compete against the teams that are on their own horses. We will lose our proud record of never having lost a SEA Games Polo match. We are doing this support polo in the region, and should use it to develop our youngsters.
Back home, the RSPC Triple Crown will start its final tournament. Five teams remain. They are leaders La Familia Windhorse, Thai Polo, La Famila, La Sarita and Jogo Polo, with a r + d gold not able to play the final.
The Triple Crown table shows there is still everything to play for. If Thai Polo wins every match, including their final match against La Familia Windhorse, they will draw absolutely level. It’s not over till it is over.
