The Polo festival in Rome: the Italian title awarded

Rome – Bad weather did not stop the great celebration of the Italian US Polo Assn. Championship. One year after the defeat in the final, UnoAerre Acquedotto Romano took the title, beating the Battistoni Polo Team 8-3 in the final. Giorgio Cosentino, Massimo Elser, Ignacio Kennedy and his son Goffredo Cutinelli Rendina (active Italian player with the highest handicap) were the protagonists of the victory, which came in the final played at the Acquedotto Romano Polo Club in Montecompatri. The rain that fell in recent days has in fact forced the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation (organiser of the event) to change the program of the decisive days, with the semi-finals and the final for third place played on penalties. On the lowest step of the podium went the Cria del Mar Polo Team, who beat La Cavallerizza 7-5 on penalties. Martin Joaquin and Pierre Jauretche won the title of top scorer, tied with 20 goals, while the Fair Play award went to Giovanni Nani. Esquina, owned by Ignacio Kennedy, finally won the best horse award.

President Di Paola: “The safety of horses and riders comes first”

“The Italian Equestrian Sports Federation – said FISE President, Marco Di Paola – puts the safety of its athletes, horses and riders first. The rain that has hit Rome in recent days has forced the sports program of the Italian Polo Championship to be remodelled. The change to the playing calendar did not lack the moments of great sport and great entertainment that we witnessed in this 2024 edition of the event of federal interest which was accompanied by an extraordinary presence of the public who had the opportunity to see in action the strongest polo players of the moment”.

Sport and social life at the Roma Polo Club

In fact, 1,500 people were present at the Roma Polo Club for a celebration of sport and social life: the final day of the Italian US Polo Assn. Championship. in fact, the ‘Polo For Smiles’ event also hosted the Fanfare show of the 4th Carabinieri Regiment on horseback, in favor of the Operation Smile Italiana ETS Foundation, committed to offering treatment and medical assistance to children and adults born with facial malformations in low- and middle-income countries. Maria Berlinguer won the ‘Ladies Hat’ award for the most glamorous hat of the day. This marks the end of a record-breaking edition for Italian Polo: never before the 2024 Italian Championship had there been nine teams registered in the top national competition. La Cavallerizza Santos, Impresion-El Porteño-US.Polo Assn., Battistoni, Moonlooker, La Colombara, Cria del Mar, Castelluccia-Las Horas, Harpa, UnoAerre Aquedotto Romano. Numbers that testify to the rise of this discipline capable of carving out a leading role in Italian equestrian sports, with an increasingly large audience enjoying the show.