Lewis at the entrance to the Polo Club
Before Lewis started his journey around the world he made a list of the different activities he would like to do when he visited different countries, for example, he knew that he wanted to go to the carnival in Brazil. One of the other things that made it onto his list was that he wanted to go and see a polo match in Argentina. That’s because the Argentines are world famous for their polo playing. Polo is a sport which is played with two teams of four players who ride on ponies and try to hit a ball with a mallet into a net.
The Brazilian team line up
Generally it is thought of as quite an elite sport as it is expensive to keep and train the ponies. Nonetheless, Lewis hoped that he might be lucky enough to see a match for himself.
At first he was disappointed because he was told that he had come to Buenos Aires at the wrong time of year and that the polo season was over. However, luckily for Lewis the Lion that wasn’t entirely correct as over the Easter week, there was a special tournament – a World Series – which was being held in Buenos Aires and better still, it was free to the public! Lewis the Lion couldn’t believe his luck!
Polo matches in Buenos Aires
The event was held on three occasions on alternate days. However, the days had to be postponed because on one evening, there was a torrential storm in Buenos Aires which meant that the polo pitches weren’t suitable to be played on. That meant that the competition ran a day behind schedule. However, Lewis the Lion didn’t mind as it meant that the final day of the competition was held on Easter Sunday and Lewis thought that this was a brilliant way to spend this special day! Furthermore, the pitches and stands were bathed in glorious sunshine and you needed to make sure you’d put on your suntan lotion and sunglasses.
A sunny day at the polo
As Lewis arrived at the Polo Club of Buenos Aires in Palermo, he could see lots of ponies waiting patiently under the shade of the trees.
Lewis sees the horses waiting for the polo game
They would soon be on the pitches playing but for now they were resting up as the game itself was very energetic. They had different, distingishing colours thrown over their saddles to represent their team. (During the game, they also wear different coloured leg bandages too). This would be important for the jockeys as it was such a quick paced game.
The horses wait for the polo game to start
When Lewis arrived at the Polo ground, the first game had already started and he had to pay a lot of attention to try to work out the rules of the game. But you can click here if you want to find out more about the Rules of Polo. There were 10 ponies with riders on the pitch: two teams with four players and then two referees. It is important that there are two referees for the safety of the riders and their mounts. You can click here to see a bit of the game itself.
Lewis watches the first polo game
Lewis the Lion marvelled at the skill of the riders during the first game: Brazil (in yellow) versus the Rest of the World (in black). How they managed to chase a moving ball and hit it, all whilst riding a pony at great speed was a wonder! He also noticed that the riders held the mallet in their right hand and presumed that this was again for the safety of the ponies. He especially liked it when the referees called for a free hit from the side-line. That way, Lewis got to see the horses and riders up really close, as you can see in this picture.
The horses gather for a free hit from the side-line
Lewis the Lion noticed that the game is divided up into short sections of 7 minutes each as a big bell was rang by the time-keeper on the side-line.
The bell is rung when one of the six 7 minute chukkers is up
This period of play is called a chukker and the ponies are changed after each chukker and the team switches end. (The team also changes direction after each goal is scored). The whole game usually lasts for an hour and a half which means that normally six chukkers are played. There was also short 3 minute breaks to enable the ponies to be changed with a 5 minute break for half time. Lewis the Lion thought it was wonderful when he spotted the umpires sipping their maté quickly during one of these breaks. There was no mistaking that he was in South America, that was sure!
The referees take a welcomed mate' break
Here is a photo of the results board that Lewis the Lion was surprised to see was still changed manually (so many sporting events these days tend to have digital scoreboards). As you can see, the Rest of the World were the clear winners.
The scoreboard for the Rest of the World versus Brazil
However, it didn’t all end there. After a refreshment break at the polo club house where Lewis heard some very posh English accents whilst munching on his hamburger, another match started on a different pitch: this time it was Argentina (in blue) versus Chile (in red).
Argentina versus Chile
This game was very competitive and Lewis the Lion realised how hard the ponies were working as they galloped from one end of the pitch to another in the blazing sunshine. No wonder it was important that they were changed after every chukker. He also admired the skills of the riders being able to switch ponies so regularly throughout the match.
Lewis contemplates the game of polo
This time he also noticed that the ponies tails and manes had been tied up carefully so to avoid getting them caught up in any swinging mallets. He realised how big an entourage must be involved in this sport, right down to the preparation of all these ponies. He started to understand why it would cost so much money and why it was sometimes called the ‘sport of kings.’
The horses gallop in chase of the ball
As he was pondering these things, Lewis admired the setting of the polo club itself as the umpires came off for another sneaky maté break. It was wonderful to think that all of this existed right in the heart of Buenos Aires as you can see the skyscrapers and apartment blocks in this picture. He was sure he could see people watching the polo from their apartment windows: what a great vantage point!
The referees consult during the second polo match
As the match continued, Argentina seeemed to dominate, putting the Chileans under pressure as goal after goal was scored in quick succession and they were proclaimed the winners. At the end of the two matches, the winners were presented with a trophy and a team photo. Lewis the Lion was surprised at how young many of the polo players were. Many of them only looked like they were teenagers or in their early twenties. How lucky these young men were to be able to travel like this – a bit like Lewis the Lion himself!
The trophy for the winning team
If you had the chance to try a different sport what would it be and why?
Would you like to be a polo player? Why or why not?
