Category: Sports

It’s been a minute since we dropped our experience at the XIII European Polo Championship in Sotogrande, Spain. 

So, we thought we’d catch you up with all the goings on in Andalucia. 

As you’d expect from a TA-DAH.TV sports experience, we captured exclusive interviews, big news and even took some time to bring you a little more info about this staggeringly beautiful locale. 

What Happened at the XIII European Polo Championship?

The XIII European Polo Championship delivered all the drama you’d expect under the Spanish sunshine. 

Some of the best players and ponies from these leading polo nations took to the gleaming grass of Sotogrande – nicknamed the “Wimbledon of Polo Pitches”: 

• Austria
• Germany
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Spain
• Switzerland

After Austria and Italy triumphed over Spain and the Netherlands respectively in the sem-finals at the Ayala Polo Club, it was over to the Santa Maria Polo Club for the finals. 

But who would take the spoils?

Who Won the XIII European Polo Championship?

Italy went on to win the tournament after a tightly contested final against the Austrians. Stefano Giansanti’s side took the final 6-5.

Elsewhere, in a tense 3rd place final, Spain took bronze by beating the Netherlands 10-4. 

This victory kickstarted a three-year cycle of success which saw the Spanish scoop gold in both the XII FIP World Championship in 2022 and the 2023 installment of the European Championships in Dusseldorf. 

Stunning Sotogrande

It may be home to the Wimbledon of Polo, but there’s more to Sotogrande than horses and sports. 

Located in Southern Andalucia, around thirty minutes from Marbella, Sotogrande is the largest privately owned residential development in the area. 

Inside its gated communities, you’ll find a world of manicured spaces, boutique stores, high-end restaurants and modern wine bars. 

Plus, there’s also a gorgeous marina to meander around as well as an opulent country club called La Reserva Club – ideal if it’s additional luxury you seek. 

Love to hear more info about amazing spaces like Sotogrande? Then you should check out our Travel Channel!

More World Polo in 2026

Back to polo though, and the eyes of the world will fall onto the glittering shores of Dubai in 2026. 

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 2023 by Mohammed Khalaf Al Habtoor, Chairman of the UAE Polo Federation, and René Beil, Managing Partner of La Martina Polo World. This agreement installed the playgrounds of Ghantoot, Al Habtoor, Desert Palm, and Dubai Polo Clubs as the host venues for the 2026 international tournament. 

So, we’ll have to wait until 2026 to see if the Spanish can continue their good form. Or will the great Adolfo Cambiaso add another championship to his glittering collection with his Argentina side?

Spanish Polo Glossary – Key Words For Beginners

Polo is often described as rugby on horseback – this is your quick-fix almanac of polo lingo in Spanish!

CANCHA: the polo field, where the game takes place, larger than three football pitches in size

BOCHA: the ball used for playing, usually white but orange if played on snow, made either of wood or plastic

CAMPANA: the bell, signifying the end of a chukker

CHUKKER: is the term to describe a period of play in polo, lasting 7 minutes; a game usually consists of 5 chukkers, 6 chukkers for high-goal matches

TIEMPO MUERTO: break between chukkers, lasting 3 minutes

ÁRBITRO: the referee and match official, of which there are two: one for each of the teams; they are on horseback too, dressed in black/white striped shirts

BANDERILLAS: assistants, who will confirm by waving flags, whether a goal is valid or not

PENAL: penalty, given for a foul

MIMBRES: the goal posts, defining the width of the goal; made of soft plastic in order to avoid injury to horse and rider in the event of a collision with others

PALENQUE: side, where a teams sets up their base in the corner of the field and where horses are housed during the game

PATRON: the owner of the polo team (four players in total), wearing shirt No. 1

TACO: polo stick, consisting of a shaft made of bamboo for flexibility and a rigid head, made of wood

PETISERO: he’s the rough-rider & caretaker of the horse, preparing and warming up the horse outside the field, getting it ready for play

GRADAS: the benches where the public sits to enjoy the game

Check Out Our Sports Channel Now for More Exclusive Polo News

Want to stay up-to-date with all the latest polo news? Then sign up for our free newsletter today and get it all direct to your inbox. 

Alternatively, head to our Sports Channel now where you can find our interview with some of the best polo players in the world including the barnstorming Brit Malcolm Borwick to rising female favourite Clara Cassino.

This was the last in a series of eight tournaments Estrella Damm had committed itself to as a sponsor! The Real Club Valderrama had switched over to LIV Golf for 2023 and we all thought, that was that then…and then BIG news was announced – so massive, it has changed the landscape of professional golf forever: The PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and PIF (Public Investment Fund, including LIV Golf League) have signed an agreement and are merging to unify golf on a global level. Wow, what?

Yes, it shocked the world, but on a commercial level it does make sense! But how commercial do we want a sport we all love so much to be, without eradicating true competition? Well, the agreement also means that PIF will make a capital investment into the newly created partnership in order to push growth and success of global team golf. Furthermore, it will also put an end to two years of legal wrangling, bad feelings, help a divided golf community heal and ultimately reward players and fans to come together to enjoy the sport they love more at a heightened level.

Anyway, we still had great fun at the last Estrella Damm Andalucia Masters when we set up the camera by the 18th green – a killer hole to play, which demands ultimate concentration, luck as well (many say) and a skilled short game. To watch Adrian Otaegui reach a comfortable lead over these 4 days was a privilege! To see the ‘young’ master at work, apparently not being phased in the slightest by it all, when many a player has ‘lost the tournament’ on the 18th, was simply incredible and, actually, unforgettable too, since he smashed the tournament record by finishing 19 under par! The previous record was set by Sergio Garcia in 2018, but Otaegui smashed that by a mile. His fellow players on the last day, the Swede Lagergren finished an impressive 13 under par, and Angel Hidalgo from Marbella, who actually led the tournament at one stage, finished a very respectable 8 under par.

Anyone, who knows Valderrama and has played or visited the course during the glorious days of either the Volvo Masters, the Ryder Cup in 1997 or the Andalucia Masters that followed, will know just how difficult it is to play the best Spanish golf course even at level par. So, massive congratulations and felicidades to ‘our man from the North’ for this spectacular victory at the last Estrella Damm Andalucia Masters – Seve (Ballesteros) would have been proud of you!

LIV GOLF LEAGUE AT REAL CLUB VALDERRAMA

One of Spain’s most desirable lifestyle destinations will be on fire when the LIV Golf League descends onto Valderrama in sunny Sotogrande! This brand-new format of professional golf as a tour has much to show for, offering fans and golf enthusiasts a three-day-long fun-filled experience at the best golf club in Spain.

There are a variety of options available to the spectator:

• the GROUND PASS allows access to a festival-style village, with great food & drink to fuel up, as well as interactive fun things to do
• the BIRDIE SHACK offers exclusive access to an open-air covered venue by the 17th with a live DJ bringing party vibes and a separate bar service with drink coupons
•  the GALLERY CLUB LOGE BOX is where you need to be for your corporate event, wanting to impress clients and guests, providing premium views of the 11th, 14th & 15th tee. Each box provides space for up to 6 people, with a dedicated waitress service and all-inclusive bar
• the CLUB54 experience is second to none, providing an ultra-premium experience, allowing aficionados to watch players warming up, as well as chilling on a special viewing terrace right on the 18th green. A full ground pass in included, of course, but don’t miss out on a chef-created, multi-course menu you can indulge in whilst all the action continues on the course

For Adrian Otaegui to have won the Andalucia Masters presents a double feat, as he actually is the first golfer to win on the DP World Tour, who has also been competing in several LIV Golf events.

A NEW GLOBAL SPORTS SENSATION: LIVE GOLF

Its inaugural season in 2022 drew thousands of spectators to internationally selected golf courses, including London’s Centurion Club, Chicago’s Rich Harvest Farm, Real Club Valderrama and many more world-leading golf venues. The name comes from the Roma numeral 54 – a perfect golf score over 18 holes. Greg Norman, it’s CEO and former world No.1 golfer and Golf Hall of Fame inductee, thinks this new format of a golf event has already captured the attention of fans around the world.

He said, that the organisation has already ‘received a great response from fans throughout the year of beta-testing, with one resounding theme: LIV Golf’s team format, innovations and festival-like events are delivering a one-of-a-kind golf experience.’ The 2023 season consists of 14 events, of which nine are expected to be played in the USA and another five on championship courses around the world. Players will compete for both individual and team points, as well as prize money.

There are 12 teams, made up of world-class golf stars in individual and team competitions. With 48 players all in all, on smaller fields offering more action. Shotgun starts mean immediate action everywhere, right from the start. The Individual Champion will be decided on points accumulated by the end of the season, whilst a Team Championship event will be ending the season.

During the LIV Golf League season, the individual and team players will be sharing a prize pot of a whopping $ 405 million in total. The new agreement ensures, that there will be no conflict with either Majors, other international team events or Heritage tournaments.

Winners of the Andalucía Masters at Real Club de Valderrama

• 2010 – Graeme Mc Dowell (-3)
• 2011 – Sergio Garcia (-6)
• 2016 – Open de España: Andrew Johnston (+1)
• 2017 – Sergio Garcia (-12)
• 2018 – Sergio Garcia (-12)
• 2019 – Christiaan Bezouidenhout (-10)
• 2020 – John Catlin (+2)
• 2021 – Matt Fitzpatrick (-6)
• 2022 – Adriàn Otaegui (-19) Tournament Record