Victorian Polo Association

Umpiring Platform

The Australian Polo Federation in association with the International Polo Academy would like to officially welcome you to the Australian Polo Development platform, now that all 5 States are now active 🎉

Please log in or register via your State’s website- alternatively all links can be found on the APF website.

Whilst the platform will be familiar to most with the rules test, we want to remind users that there is so much more on offer:

Latest News
Check out frequent match reports, articles, player and team insights in our Magazine section.

Featured E-learning
Every month we feature new. E-learning content from a wide range of contributors and experts.

Videos
Check out our latest videos featuring Players, Teams, Rules and Tactics/Strategy.

Subscribe
Our Player Subscription is available for free, for one month, when you sign up using the promo code APF_247. This will give you access to the majority of our premium content and the offer is available for a limited time only.

Playing / Training Abroad
Want to learn to play polo in Argentina? Check out our exclusive Player Programmes.

The VPA has some exciting news. We will be at Equitana on Friday 15th November in the Kubota Outdoor competition arena from 3.45pm to 5.00 pm.
Come down and cheer on the game. More details to be announced shortly!!!

Revisiting last years amazing OTT article featuring Victoria’s Ruki Baillieu.

From no name to polo star

A champion polo pony in Australia, off the track Thoroughbred Riviera was recently scouted by one of the world’s top international players and is now set to play against the best in England when the prestigious Cowdray Gold Cup kicks off later this month.

“It’s no surprise; she’s been a very good mare for me,” says Victorian Jack ‘Ruki’ Baillieu, Australia’s top-ranked professional polo player. Ruki is referring to Australian Thoroughbred mare, Riviera, who has just been sold to the world’s best polo player, Adolfo Cambiaso of Argentina.

Recently flown to England, the mare is now set to contest the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup – the premier polo tournament in Europe at 22-goal (High Goal) level. In polo, players are rated on a handicap scale from minus 2 to 10 goals, with High Goal tournaments requiring teams to have an appropriate aggregate ranking – meaning these tournaments attract the top players and therefore the top horses. When Riviera lines up for the Cowdray Gold Cup, she’ll be playing against some of the best in the business.

No talent for the track

By Ad Valorem (USA) out of Rivarea, Riviera was in training with the late Bob Milligan at Taree, however she never raced – in fact, she never even made it so far as to receive a racing name! Lacking talent for the track, she was scouted by Adam Buchert, a talented equestrian allrounder who show jumped with the best of his generation and worked as a racing foreman before transferring his skills to polo. These days Adam retrains Aussie Thoroughbreds for the sport and has found that the breed has a strong reputation on the world polo stage.

Retrained by Adam for polo player and owner Angus Karoll, Riviera was one of a number of horses purchased by Ruki four years ago. “I initially gave her to my brother to play,” he explains. “He’s an amateur, and Riviera was so easy and so kind and just did everything well, it made it easier for him to play. She’s also small in stature, so easy for an amateur to hit the ball from, and she’s got a great turn of speed. She’s just a very complete horse.”

Ruki’s brother rode Riviera for a year and a half and then when he gave up polo, Ruki took over the reins himself. “When I got her back, I realised just how good she was,” he says. The mare’s prowess on the field did go unnoticed; while still owned by Angus Karoll she claimed the Godolphin Retrained Racehorse Award at the 2017 World Polo Championship, and then later with Ruki was named Champion Polo Pony at the 2020 Melbourne Polo Cup.

Impressing the best

At this year’s La Dolfina Cup at Ellerston – a 22-goal tournament featuring many international players – Ruki offered 10-goal player Adolfo Cambiaso the ride on Riviera and she was again awarded the accolade of Champion Polo Pony. “Adolfo said, ‘I'll take her’ and I said, ‘Okay, no problem’”, explains Ruki. “She's been a great mare for me. I've bred out of her [via embryo transfer] and own some genetics out of her, so I thought at age eleven it was a good opportunity to sell her. When Adolfo buys a horse, it’s going to get shown extremely well and played in one of the best organisations and with one of the best players the sport has seen. He’ll take her to England, and if she performs over there, she’ll go down to Argentina at the end of the year to play in the open competition. That's the holy grail.”

Known as the sport’s heartland, the Argentinian polo circuit attracts the crème de la crème of horses and players alike – not bad for a little Aussie Thoroughbred!

A long-time professional player, Ruki has seen many good horses over the course of his career – and among them have been a number of Thoroughbreds. “I have had some great off the track horses. I played overseas for a number of years and took a lot of off the track horses overseas and played them internationally; I've had a lot of success with them. There are some extremely talented horses out there that don’t make it as a racehorse that are retrained in polo and excel.”

TEAM ANNOUNCED: AUSTRALIA vs NEW ZEALAND


The APF Selection Committee is pleased to announce the team selected to represent Australia in the 18 Goal Ladies International Test Match at Bromelton House on Sunday 29th September, 2024 is:

Katie Grimmond
Anna Dowling
Philipa Fitz-Henry
Indiana Bennetto (c)

We thank them for their commitment to Australian Polo and look forward to the match.

Theres still time to fill in the Melbourne Polo Fields Survey and make your opinions count. Survey closes COB 1st August.
Check your emails from Gameday or find the link on the VPA website.

Nominations close on Monday so VIC ladies get nominating!

NOMINATIONS: AUSTRALIA vs NEW ZEALAND LADIES


The Australian Polo Federation is calling for nominations for an Australian Ladies Team to play in a Test Match on Sunday 29th September, 2024.

DETAILS:
Date: Sunday 29th September 2024
Goal level: 18 Goal
Location: Bromelton House, Beaudesert, Queensland.

Nominations Close Monday 22nd July 2024. Please nominate to [email protected] stating full name, handicap, email & phone number.

Australian Team members will be expected to cover all their costs associated with this match.

Polo friends - Country Road needs your help sourcing the photographer of this picture. Taken in 1985 at Chirnside. Bonus points for naming the players!

The VPA would ike to thank Ruki Baillieu for the EPC Autumn league concept and all of the work he has put in required to make this league the success it has been. Thanks also go the field owners who have made this possible and to all the players who supported it.

The three fields at Werribee are now closed to ALL until Melbourne Cup 2024. This season has been one to remember and we look forward to next season being even better. There's still lots of work to be done and we need to get the boards on all three fields taken down and stored away by 3rd June, for the 3 day event. If you can lend a hand with this please contact Ruki directly.

Now the polo has finished its time to start planning for our premium events next year. If you are able to lend a hand with event planning or securing sponsorship we would love to hear from you, please email the secretary.

As per ususal the 2024/2025 season will start with the Melbourne Polo Cup and we also have the Xmas polo mid week event at Chirnside, in December where we invite bookings for christmas parties and work breakups. Make sure Thursday 12th December (finals day) is blocked out in your diary.

See you next season!

Dear Victorian Polo Community

Please see details of two stunning rural lifestyle properties for sale with Ray White:

522 Beremboke Road, Beremboke can be found here:

https://raywhiteruralvictoria.com.au/properties/rural/vic/beremboke-3342/lifestyle/3082698

451 Beremboke Road, Beremboke can be found here:

https://raywhiteruralvictoria.com.au/properties/rural/vic/beremboke-3342/lifestyle/3079862

Please contact Jason Hellyer for further information
+61 403043571
[email protected]
https://www.vicpolo.com.au/Assets/News/10684/IM---Manningtree--Lone-Pine.pdf

We hope you had a great show, Geelong Showjumping Club !!

Welcome to Twilight Beach Polo held
On Saturday 10th February at St Kilda West Beach.

Experience the thrill and excitement of world-class beach polo.

Now in its 6th year the event brings the perfect blend of sport, fashion and entertainment on Melbournes world-famous foreshore.

A limited number of tickets are still available. Visit www.twilightbeachpolo.com.au to secure yours.
See you there.

It’s only a matter of days until the ultimate Beach Polo party hits our doorstep! Have you secured your ticket?

Don’t miss out on an unforgettable day!

🐎 All the polo in action on the stunning St Kilda West Beach

🎵 Live entertainment and DJs spinning tunes all day

🍴 Delicious food from our fresh Summer menu

🌅 Beach Club access and sunset views

✨ Private booths available (Nearly sold out!)

Saturday 10th February. Get your tickets now.

Twilight Beach Polo

Welcome to Vallex Polo Club for the Victorian Polo Association Ladies Championships 2024. We are excited to be hosting this tournament for the third year in a row. The tournament will take place on the 30th and 31st January.

The tournament will accept team and individual nominations for:

A Grade : 10-12 Goal
B Grade : 6-8 Goal
C Grade : Low goal

Please note: Handicap levels are a guide and the tournament committee reserves the right to alter these in the interest of a fun tournament, based upon the entries received.

The Vallex Club house will be open for food and drinks.

We look forward to welcoming as many ladies as possible to the field for a few days of great polo. Prizes for all grades, Best playing pony and MVP.

Nominations close at 12 noon on Tuesday 23rd January 2024. The tournament programme will be released shortly after the close of nominations.

Chukka fees are $35 per chukka payable at the time of nomination. For all nomination and portal enquiries please contact Heleni Goodman on 0419 224286.

Please contact Amber Drum re:accomodation suggestions and horse paddocks 0414 484 566.

Horse hire available via: Riverlands (Ant 0488 561 200) and Venture Polo (James 0424 181 102).

https://www.vicpolo.com.au/News/Articles/13-Jan-2024/Victorian-Polo-Association-Ladies-Championships-at-Vallex-Polo-Club-2024

Calling all juniors - either playing or looking to try to polo. Get booked in for our junior polo clinic on the 18th and 19th January 2024

Book now as places are limited- currently only open to members of the Victorian Polo Association and their friends, partners and grooms.
Any others interested in attending are welcome to lodge there name with [email protected] should places become available.

The Victorian Polo Association invites all players who are 19 and under on the 1st October 2023 to attend the annual polo school on the 18th and 19th of January 2024.

Our coaches for the two day's include Andrew Williams, Ruki Baillieu and Jack Berner who all play polo professionally around the world.

Run over two days we cater for riders who are proficient in riding and confident cantering on their own, through to experienced players.

Minimum age to participate is 10 years old.

For those without suitable horses we can point you in the right direction to hire horses at an additional cost.

Over the two days a Victorian Junior squad will be selected to play in a match against another state junior team in 2024. Only participants in this clinic will be eligible.

The day runs from 10am - 4pm with a break for lunch. The cost of participation is $150. If you are not a current financial junior player you will need to purchase an additional coaching/school membership at $60. The $150 includes a BBQ lunch both days and all instruction.

Each morning at 10am we will start with an introduction in the Melbourne Polo fields Club house to discuss the day ahead. Instruction will be both whiteboard/classroom based, on foot and on horseback. On the first morning after a ridden assessment you will be split in to appropriate groups. After lunch you will be back on the horses for some stick work and riding drills followed by chukkas.

If you have any questions regarding booking, payment or insurance please call Secretary to the Victorian Polo Association Heleni Goodman on 0419 224286.

For all other enquiries please call Melbourne Polo Fields Polo Manager Andrew Williams on 0431 684 950.

To nominate CLICK HERE. Nominations for this clinic will need to be accompanied by full payment and will close on Jan 12th 2024.

News VIC Polo Association News

The Victorian Polo Association invites all players who are 19 and under on the 1st October 2023 to attend the annual polo school.



Our coaches for the two day's include Andrew Williams, Ruki Baillieu and Jack Berner who all play polo professionally around the world.


Run over two days we cater for riders who are proficient in riding and confident cantering on their own, through to experienced players.

Minimum age to participate is 10 years old.

For those without suitable horses we can point you in the right direction to hire horses at an additional cost.



Over the two days a Victorian Junior squad will be selected to play in a match against another state junior team in 2024. Only participants in this clinic will be eligible.



The day runs from 10am - 4pm with a break for lunch. The cost of participation is $150. If you are not a current financial junior player you will need to purchase an additional coaching/school membership at $60. The $150 includes a BBQ lunch both days and all instruction.



Each morning at 10am we will start with an introduction in the Melbourne Polo fields Club house to discuss the day ahead. Instruction will be both whiteboard/classroom based, on foot and on horseback.



If you have any questions please call Secretary to the Victorian Polo Association Heleni Goodman on 0419 224286 or Melbourne Polo Fields Polo Manager Andrew Williams on 0431 684 950

To nominate visit www.vicpolo.com.au and select the news article and click the link to registration.

Some photos from the amazing Diggle Photography from the recent Melbourne Cup tournament. Link to more photos can be found on the VPA website.

Can never choose just one of Diggle Photography amazing photos. Thanks Graeme for always capturing brilliant photos l

FINALS DAY TOMORROW //
Not only exhilarating polo at the highest level but some great spectacles and prizes to win.

Only 10 tickets left in our marquee -
Secure your tickets or carparks at

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/melbourne-cup-polo-2023-tickets-729620242787

Thanks to Mason Hats for three beautiful hats we look forward to giving away tomorrow.

Melbourne cup Polo 2023 - not only will you experience the best polo in Victoria but there’s an opportunity to kick off your heels and compete in the Sprint Races!! Entry is free, prizes for the winners. See you Sunday!!!

Last chance - the venue has maximum capacity of 120. No walk-ins on the night- only those with names on the guest list will have entry. Only 20 tickets left.

Head over to our Instagram page to be in the running to win 2 marquee tickets to Melbourne Polo Cup Finals on Sunday 12th November.

The countdown is ON!!! Three weeks till the 2023 Melbourne Cup polo FINALS- Tickets are selling fast. Secure your ticket NOW before it’s too late.

Finals day entertainment packages are now available. Tickets available on Eventbrite or the VPA website.

Get in quick tickets selling fast- full list of auction items available next week.

Countdown to the 2023 Melbourne Cup Polo IS ON!!!!!!?? Join us 2nd -12th November. Entertainment packages available soon.

Save the date for Melbourne Cup Polo
2023

Hope everyone is staying safe in these uncertain times. We are hoping polo will happen in Victoria this year. The Victorian Polo Club is no longer active and has been replaced by Melbourne City Polo Club.

If you would like to stay informed please head over to the Melbourne City Polo Club page