Mongol might defeats Tigresses' roar
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31ST WORLD ELEPHANT POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS
TIGER TOPS KARNALI LODGE, NEPAL, 26 - 30/11/2012
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A mighty Mongol team defeated the best all-ladies elephant polo team for more than a decade
Mongol might
in a dramatic finish to WEPA 2012. Tigresses Polo Arabia, supported by event title-sponsor EFG
International and Equestrio, delivered a strong performance, losing only to the winners, but could
not match the incredible strength of the Mongolian Genghis Khan outfit led by Chuluunbaatar
Urtnasan who slammed in an incredible 39 goals during the five-day tournament.
defeats
Tigresses’ roar Lucy Monro and Imogen Lillywhite
Photo: © Lucy Monro.
28 EQUESTRIO January/February 2013 January/February 2013 EQUESTRIO 29
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C huluunbaatar Urtnasan, known as Chuuka,
teamed with Dovchin Tseveldorj, Battur
Tseveldorj and Endkhdul Jumdaan, was far
and away the tournament’s highest scorer,
followed by Tigresses Polo’s Samantha Prentice who knocked
in 19 goals thanks to her superior tackling and hitting skills, and
tournament patron Kristjan Edwards who scored 13 goals for
the Tiger Tops Tuskers.
The Mongolian, a regular player of conventional polo
supported by Ghengis Khan patron Christopher Giercke, was a
shoe-in for the EFG International Most Valuable Player as there
was certainly no one from the eight teams that made the trip to
Karnali, Western Nepal, this year to rival his strength and agility
on the pitch.
MONGOLS AND TUSKERS TOP LEAGUES
Genghis Khan made their intentions clear from day one
when they took apart the defence of the ex-Gurkha outfit,
the Rusty Kukris with a 14-6 win, although the Kukris’ Chris
Darby and Tristan Forster set about securing their spots in the
tournament’s top ten scorers slotting in goals either side of the
break between chukkas. The scene was set for the Mongolian
onslaught when Chuuka fought fiercely against a spirited
defence by Forster to take his 12th and final goal of the match
in the dying seconds.
The next day, it was the turn of the Tigresses, who had
enjoyed a 17-2 win in their tournament opener, to take on the
Mongols and although the match ended in defeat for the ladies
team, they showed themselves a force to be reckoned with a
respectable 9-5 score. The ladies conceded seven goals to the
Mongolians but fought back with a goal from Sam Prentice and
efficient defence by Carolyn Syangbo causing Chuuka to hit
wide on one occasion.
Photo: © Lucy Monro.
RIGHT: Sam Prentice battles Mongol might.
30 EQUESTRIO January/February 2013 January/February 2013 EQUESTRIO 31
The Mongolians also demonstrated themselves to be
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impressive in defence as well as in attack.
The Mongolians also demonstrated themselves to be The ball was soon back in the Afghaniphants’ half after
impressive in defence as well as in attack with Dovchin bully-off but a staggering 40m clearance by Bell sent the
Tseveldorj deflecting big hits and skillful dribbling from Prentice ball into the path of newcomer Simon Chatterton who
and Tigresses captain Stine Edwards. scored his first and only goal of the tournament to huge cheers
On the third day, the Afghaniphants, very much the from the crowd. “That made the tournament for me”, he said
outsiders at the start of the tournament, proved they were no afterwards. “Without doubt, that alone has made the trip
pushover and despite defeat, thanks once again to the hitting worth it.”
power of Chuuka, who scored five goals in the first chukka,
they rode off the field with their heads held high with a score TIGRESSES TRUMP TUSKERS AS MONGOL MIGHT
of 8-5. POWERS ON
Although the first chukka was the familiar story of goals Semi-finals day dawned with the Tigresses preparing
rapidly scored, Afghaniphants’ Ryan Scott put up a fight for something of a domestic showdown with Sam and Peter
in defence before Chuuka’s fourth goal flew past the line. A Prentice and Stine and Kristjan Edwards pitted against each
half-time strategy discussion must have been one of the most other as the ladies took on the Tuskers. The first chukka saw
empowering in elephant polo history as the Afghans’ steady the teams fairly evenly matched with the Tigresses hinting at
improvement gathered pace and they launched an aggressive having the upper hand. When play resumed the ladies lost no
assault on their opponents which was marked by captain time proving that they were indeed the dominant force, storming
Rebekah Bell breaking her stick within ten seconds of the ahead to book their place in the final with a convincing 9-6 win
bully-off. over their adversaries.
From then on, it was all about Bell as she defended against
the Mongols, snatching the ball from within inches of the goal
Photo: © Lucy Monro.
RIGHT: EFG’s Robert Mehm does his best to keep possession.
mouth only for Chuuka to slice it past her to score from an
acute angle on the edge of the D. BELOW: Tiger Tops Tuskers battle with Mel’s Angels; The Pukka Chukkas
take on the Afghaniphants.
Dressed to impress
Mongol might
The Rusty Kukris, a former Gurkha team with players from
the UK who have a natural affinity for Nepal having served Genghis Khan Mongolia was certainly the most feared team
in the country during their military careers, were awarded of the 2012 tournament with everyone keen to avoid meeting
the best dressed prize this year. The team’s placed last in them as they dispatched all in their path including two-time
both years that they have played the tournament, but their winners EFG in their semi-final. Chuuka, Dovchin and Batuur
strip drew many compliments, particularly their solar topee are experienced players of polo on horses, travelling the
helmets with specially commissioned cap badges. world promoting their country’s growing enthusiasm and
ability in the game. Trained by polo legend Col. Raj Kalaan,
elephant polo many-time world champion and captain of the
Indian national polo team for 20 years, the Mongol squad
boasted depth and skill.
They are also a fascinating cultural addition to the elephant
polo community, entertaining players and spectators alike
with their moving Mongolian folk singing around the golgar
fire in the evenings. In 2011 Dovchin and Chuuka were in
the line-up that won the Olympic Quaich but it was a new
line-up with the addition of a third experienced polo player
that took to the field in 2012. This year’s combination of the
high scoring Chuuka and the strength of Dovchin backed
up by Battur Tseveldorj, also from the Orkhon Valley on
Photo: © Lucy Monro.
the Mongolian Steppe, with Endkhdul Jumdaan the only
Photo: © Lucy Monro.
Photo: © Lucy Monro.
inexperienced player in the team was literally unbeatable and
was a great source of pride for patron Christopher Giercke
who has been the driving force behind the development of
polo in Mongolia since the 1980s.
32 EQUESTRIO January/February 2013 January/February 2013 EQUESTRIO 33
With the World Cup decided, it was the turn of the Olympic
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Quaich finalists to take to the field with the returning
Afghaniphants, who made their WEPA debut in 2010, and the
newly minted Mel’s Angels each determined to make their
mark on elephant polo history.
Photo: © Lucy Monro.
Alex Hamilton displays Pukka form.
Acumen Energy Bicycle Polo Cup
Photo: © Lucy Monro.
In a typically exuberant tournament, sponsored by Pukka Next up EFG, champions in both 2010 and 2011, faced the
ABOVE: Robert Mehm displays some strong defence for EFG.
Chukkas team member Tom Fontaine’s Acumen Energy, Mongols. The Swiss team played a determined match but saw
teams pedalled to the start line, and, predictably, ran off TOP LEFT: The semi-final showdown between the Tuskers and the Tigresses their hopes of a World Cup hat-trick dashed. Sheer nerves at
nursing bruises and carrying bicycles bent into elaborate pitched two married couples against each other as the Edwards and Prentices the intimidating strength of the Mongol team seemed to be
shapes after spectacular collisions. faced each other. present in EFG from the start as Sangjay Choegyal missed an
On finals day, ‘Rinchen’ Choegyal (brother Sangjay taking early open goal and then missed again after a hit in.
his absent brother’s name because he was playing for the Results It fell to EFG captain James Manclark to open the scoring
opposition!) scored the winning goal that sealed a Pukka for his team after the Mongol team’s only inexperienced player,
Chukka victory over EFG Tiger Tops 4-3, after Tom Fontaine WEPA World Championship Enkdhul Jumdaan, found it impossible to defend against the
had earlier scored a spectacular goal from the half-way line. Gold: Genghis Khan Mongolia sport’s co-founder’s skill. There was a stark inevitability about
The Equestrio Fillies failed to score during the tournament Silver: Tigresses Polo Arabia what followed as Chuuka scored his fourth goal of the match
but came close thanks to the efforts of Hattie Griffiths, Bronze: Tiger Tops Tuskers Nepal within 15 seconds of bully-off but Choegyal managed to close
who also rode out for the Rusty Kukris bike polo team. Fourth: EFG Switzerland the gap with a goal at the close of the chukka taking it to 9-6 in
Griffiths had an open goal but unfortunately joined the ranks favour of the Mongols.
of the injured when her bike let her down with a snapped WEPA Olympic Quaich Ghengis Khan toyed with EFG in the second chukka,
gear cable causing her to crash as she lifted her mallet. It Gold: Afghaniphants Afghanistan allowing Nigel Lea to tap in two goals, the first after dribbling
was widely agreed that the girls made up for their lack of Silver: Mel’s Angels UK from a bully-off, but a further three goals from Chuuka and one
scoring ability in the style stakes in their stylish candy pink Bronze: Pukka Chukkas UK from Dovchin sealed the fate of the defending champions.
Equestrio shirts. Fourth: Rusty Kukris UK The two-time world champions’ confidence appeared
Photo: © Lucy Monro.
severely dented after a 6-6 draw against newcomers Mel’s
34 EQUESTRIO January/February 2013 January/February 2013 EQUESTRIO 35
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Photo: © Lucy Monro.
Photo: © Lucy Monro.
The Angels scored again but TOP SCORERS
it was a fitting close Top 10 scorers
1. ‘Chuuka’ (Ghengis Khan) 39 Teams’ goal totals (actual goals scored,
to a tournament in which 2.
3.
Sam Prentice
Kristjan Edwards
(Tigresses)
(Tuskers)
19
13
not including handicaps)
1. Ghengis Khan 40
women players showed 4.
5.
Sangjay Choegyal (EFG)
Michael Eaton (Pukkas) 11
12 2.
3.
Tigresses 30
EFG 22
6. Tristan Forster (Kukris) 9 4. Tuskers 21
their true mettle. 7. Stine Edwards (Tigresses) 8 5. Pukka Chukkas 15
8. Nigel Lea (EFG) 8 6. Rusty Kukris 15
9. Rebekah Bell (Afghaniphants) 6 7. Afghaniphants 12
10. Chris Darby (Kukris) 6 8. Mel’s Angels 9
Angels at the group stages, and they finished the tournament Despite her efforts, Chuuka eventually made it past Sam to Rivalries between the Tigresses and the Tuskers, the team
Photo: © Lucy Monro.
placed fourth overall after being defeated by the Tiger Tops score not once but twice in quick succession. The Tigresses of Prentice’s husband Peter, were forgotten as the chukka
Tuskers 7-5 in the play-off on finals day. then seized possession and Chuuka found his defence drew to a close when the WEPA chairman gave vocal support
thwarted when, tackling Lucy Monro who was in the Mongol to the ladies from the sidelines and then a motivational talk at
MONGOL GLORY D and headed for goal, he fouled by hooking, giving Prentice half-time.
Finals day was a tense affair with an understandably nervous the opportunity to score from the resulting penalty and inch her A foul was again called against Chuuka for hooking but
Tigresses team making careful preparations with muscle team ahead with a score of 5-4. the relentless Mongol force battled on to slot in two more
stretches and stick selection. The ladies appeared determined Syangbo then took up a staunch defensive position against goals sealing the win for himself and his comrades. The
to show that if they were going to go down, they would do so the Mongol big hitter firing the ball up the pitch from the Tigresses rode off exhausted but proud of a
TOP: The Ghengis Khan Polo Club celebrate Mongol triumph.
fighting with Prentice making her intentions clear from the start D, but he was soon back to level the score at 5-5 and then performance which saw captain Edwards take a
ABOVE: Afghaniphant captain Rebekah Bell receives the with agile tackling of Chuuka, forcing him to hit the ball wide outran Prentice not long afterwards to take it to 6-5 in his stick on the shoulder from Dovchin but play on undeterred,
WEPA Quaich. when he looked certain to score after the first bully-off. team’s favour. and concede just six goals (scored as opposed to
36 EQUESTRIO January/February 2013 January/February 2013 EQUESTRIO 37
handicap) against a team whose victory margins had previously
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run into double figures.
With the World Cup decided, it was the turn of the
Olympic Quaich finalists to take to the field with the returning
Afghaniphants, who made their WEPA debut in 2010, and the
newly minted Mel’s Angels each determined to make their mark
on elephant polo history.
The first chukka was all about the girls with Angels captain
Gwenni Barrett defending staunchly against Afghan captain
Bell who eventually defeated her to take the score to 2-1 and
then 3-1.
Bell repeated her performance of riding back on with
renewed vigour in the second half and scored within 34
seconds of the start of the second chukka with Tom Tuke-
Hastings answering for the Angels shortly afterwards taking it
to score 4-2.
The Angels scored again but it was a fitting close to a
tournament in which women players showed their true mettle
that the final goal of the tournament was from the Afghaniphants’
Photo: © Lucy Monro.
Amy Woodrow who beat the Angels’ star defender Tony Papalia
to take the score to 5-3 and seal an unexpected but deserved
victory for her team.
Photo: © Lucy Monro.
EFG International’s Keith Gapp presents the EFG Most Valuable
Here come
the girls
Player Award to Chuuka.
EQUESTRIO BEST PLAYING ELEPHANT
The Equestrio Best Playing Elephant Award was inaugurated was the plucky young 18 year old Saraswati Kali. Born in
in 2011 to reward the elephant and mahout combination Assam, Saraswati has been with Tiger Tops for 12 years with
who combine to become a ‘game changing’ influence upon mahout Ram Charan. In 2009 she was among the elephants
the tournament. who walked across Nepal from Tiger Tops in Chitwan to
Typically a ‘game changing elephant’ will be a small, fast Karnali when the tournament was held in Bardia for the first After a storming performance last year, Tigresses Polo made realised we were actually in the WEPA finals, when we went
elephant playing in the centre time. Liking Bardia she refused it to the final in 2012 and while they were the only all-lady in on the parade behind the piper and it was just such a big
but with larger elephants than point blank to load onto the truck team, they were one of three teams in which the girls were key. moment”, she said. “I also thought each of the three goals
usual participating in WEPA 2012 that was to take her back to The girls were certainly not disappointed by their second place scored by Lucy on an enormous elephant were such a feat. I
there were uncharacteristically Chitwan and so stayed in Karnali position, as it is a step in the right direction towards taking the shouted encouragement at her the whole way, “go Lucy go”,
tall elephants among those where she made herself pretty World Cup in 2013, having been placed third in 2011. because it was so impressive that she could manoeuvre that
considered for the sought unpopular with resident matriarchs Captain Stine Edwards said her team had been “terrific”. big slow elephant and manage to hit the ball with 110 inch
after accolade. who took umbridge at her flair and “We fought hard to get all the way to the finals, it was definitely stick. My goal against the Tiger Tops Tuskers, which was
Notably Ram Kali, driven by enthusiasm for polo. Hit a ball into not easy”, she said. “The whole team played really well and I an under the belly shot, which also went under the belly
Khullu, Ras Kali driven by Som space and Saraswati will chase can only say it was great to see the teamwork, which made of the opponent’s elephant from outside the D, well, I
Bahadur Kumal who despite her it as fast as her solid legs will everyone shine. I have to say, I feel very lucky to be able to play never think I am going to hit a shot like that again. And
massive size was the elephant carry her. Her joyful determination on such a team.” lastly, Sam’s many amazing goals - not sure I can pick one
Photo: © Lucy Monro.
from whom Tigresses’ Lucy Monro to be the first elephant to reach There were whispers in the ele polo camp this year that of them.”
scored three times, Champa Kali the ball knows no bounds and women outperformed men at the tournament, which Stine said The Tigresses will be posting regular updates on their
who despite her size stepped up it was a team’s tactical use of shows that women are getting more of a feel for the game. preparations for WEPA 2013. Follow them on Twitter on @
to the mark and demonstrated this remarkable elephant that “I do not know whether we are outperforming the men, but TigressesPolo
flair for polo under the direction determined their success or I think that women are getting more a feel for the game - and It was a special WEPA for Gwenni Barrett, who got engaged
of Sani Chara, and Chan Chun Kali who had recovered just failure. Saraswati may be considered something of an more women are participating. In this year’s tournament, we to boyfriend and rival team member Simon Race on the third
a few years ago from TB and made a remarkable return to upstart by the elephant matriarchs who live with her, but had a chukka with all female Tigresses against an all-female night of the tournament, a moment that will live long in the
full match fitness under the supervision of Ramesh, were all she is considered a heroine by those who play polo on line-up from the Afghaniphants. I am not sure, if that has ever memories of the many friends the couple have made in their
candidates for the award and worthy of special mention. her. Congratulations to Saraswati Kali and her mahout happened before.” years of attending the event.
But the elephant judged to be the absolute ‘game changer’ Ram Charan. It is telling of the Tigresses’ performance that it was Mel’s Angels had originally been intended as a ladies team
impossible for Stine to pick just one highlight. “I only really but it was a co-ed team that eventually lined up on day one
38 EQUESTRIO January/February 2013 January/February 2013 EQUESTRIO 39
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The Tigresses are lead onto the field for the WEPA final and (right)
line up with the all-girl Afghaniphant team fielded on the first day.
Des
Photo: © Lucy Monro.
Photo: © Lucy Monro.
Palm ad
of the tournament, with patron Mel Wheeler, wife of Pukka with some players stepping aside in the key matches to
Chukkas patron Jason Wheeler, promising, “my angels will fly”. allow Rebekah to field her strongest team, including the
And fly they did, as although they had a difficult start on day captain herself who scored three of her team’s four goals in
one with a 9-4 defeat against the Tiger Tops Tuskers, they made the final.
their intentions clear on the second day with one of the biggest “I have got a lot stronger and lighter since I last played”,
upsets of the tournament, holding former champions EFG to a she said. “CrossFit (a popular fitness regime developed in the
6-6 draw. Their incredible fighting spirit did not unfortunately USA) is the reason behind my improved upper body strength.”
carry them to the World Cup semi-final, as they were defeated Rebekah has high hopes for the future of women in the
by close rivals the Pukka Chukkas 4-3 on day three but they sport, saying elephant polo is one of the few that men and
did reach the Quaich final, an impressive feat for first timers, in women can play together and be evenly matched.
particularly defender Papalia and Angels captain Gwenni, who “Women play with two hands meaning we lead with our left
proved herself to be small in height but big in determination, shoulders and that we don’t have the reach that men do. Even
and was part of a WEPA first as it was the first instance of there though we might be stronger in the bully-offs and muddling, the
being three lady captains at the tournament. men have more reach and because they’re leading with their
Captain Gwenni said: “I knew I wasn’t experienced enough right shoulders, they can play more under the trunk and under
to really connect with the ball with enough skill to clear it a long the belly, so the advantages balance each other out.
way like the better players so my tactic was to fight for it and “It’s a sport that is equal. You are equal on the pitch with
not let the better players connect as well as they usually can. I your male counterparts, different but equal.”
wanted to get in there and really go for it.” There were rumblings in the elephant polo jungle this
She joked that a highlight was playing against fiancé Simon year that women playing with two hands now have an unfair
on day three, a close match which saw the Pukkas take the advantage as their playing skills develop, something Rebekah
victory with a score of 4-3. “It was excellent, she said, though feels is “rubbish”.
unfortunately our two elephants did not like each other so “You show me a woman who can wind up a roundhouse
we couldn’t get too close, I was looking forward to bullying hit”, she said. “The last time we came, I tried in a practice
off against him. Perhaps it was better that way as we are session and I tore my forearm apart. If you did that, women
still engaged!” wouldn’t play because we couldn’t sustain a tournament
The tournament highlight for Gwenni was obviously her like that.”
engagement, but in a close second was drawing with EFG, She concluded: “I just love this sport, it’s just outstanding.
she said. Where else can you play a sport with such wonderful animals? I
For the Afghaniphants, it was the second year they had don’t play horse polo, so don’t know what the human to animal
competed, having made their first appearance in 2010, when relationship is like, but when we were playing, the elephants got
they were placed last, but this year’s strategy of allowing each so excited playing, all that trumpeting and bumping humming.
of the eight players equal playing time paid off. “They do understand it. I don’t know how many times
Rebekah, said she was “thrilled” by her team’s performance, during a muddle, an elephant will kick the ball out. They know
“We expected to be in the Quaich, we didn’t have ambitions to what’s going on and they know how to participate.”
be anywhere else”, she said. The Afghaniphants sell their apparel in aid of the Karen Woo
“We got pummelled in our first match (a 17-2 defeat against Foundation in Kabul. Karen was a team member and fiancée of
the Tigresses) but we got better, slowly”, she said, revealing current Afghaniphants player Paddy Smith. She was a doctor
the team had plans to ‘turn on their competitive streak’ in the on a medical aid mission in Afghanistan who was murdered by
semi-final. insurgents in August 2010.
And turn it on they did, defeating the Pukka Chukkas 6-5 For more information about Karen and her extraordinary life
in the semi and Mel’s Angels 5-3 in the final to win the Quaich, and work, visit www.karenwoofoundation.org
40 EQUESTRIO January/February 2013
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