Back to the O2 Arena for the exciting event that is, The HPA (Hurlingham Polo Association) Gaucho International Polo. Three matches culminating in a 20 goal match between old rivals England and Argentina.
The Argentinian team of Andrea Vianini (standing in for Nacho Figueras who broke his hip at Cowdray last Sunday) Oscar Mancini and Adolfo Casabal, won the closely fought match 11 goals to 10 from the England team of Jamie Morrison, Maurice Ormerod and Max Charlton. It certainly was an exciting match with a good crowd giving their vocal support for both teams as the pace sped up for the final chukka.
With a dramatic theatrical entrance, both teams arrived into the arena in the latest line up from Maserati, walking across the arena to their waiting ponies. Andrea Vianini provided the drama with one off completely and several well recovered almost flying dismounts, always a good player to watch.
Personally it was by far the hardest match I’ve had to cover, with light levels considerably lower than the previous two years. For the photographers amongst you, this meant shooting at f 2.8 – ISO 12800, two stops darker than usual and still struggling to get shutter speeds fast enough to freeze the action.
