Kuala Lumpur Academy of Polo organised or participated in a total of 88 events in 2023.  That comes from running horse shows, polo tournaments, cushion polo, a gymkhana, talks, tours, KL Pony Club rallies and camps, and everything else that we do. If that number of events is astounding, it surely is.  Even if we are very event focused, it is still a huge number of events to have staged, a number that astounds us too.

FRICs, WICs and SICs

Star of the shows were Instructional Chukkas.  106 new players have taken to the field at the KL Polo Club since the Covid bans were lifted.   Read that again.  1-0-6 new players.  43 have passed the KLPC Polo Test and now hold polo handicaps and are eligible to play in club chukkas and tournaments.

These amazing statistics were attained through the 55 FRICs, WICs and SICs that we were able to hold this year.

While Malaysians were the majority with 50%, the other polo citizens were from 19 other countries. The 20 countries that has had players take part in FRICs/WICs/SICs or Club Chukkas are listed right here:

Much more important than a statistic are the players themselves.  We are very proud of every one of them.  You can download the full list of players we have played instructional chukkas with us here: KLAP Polo Player Records 20231231

The 2^nd Malaysia Youth Polo Tournament saw participation from five countries, a truly international polo event.

For the first time ever, the Moiz Boyz played a tournament as a polo team. Ashman Moiz, at age 10, was the youngest player in the tournament.

Miqayl Djedovic and Shamsul Johan Shaiful might have been fortunate to be drawn with Ginecito Bargallo, but they played well in their own right to win the tournament.

Julian Lancia had to helm the international team, another learning experience.  He did in great style, playing with Mahad Ali from Pakistan, Jake Ednie-Brown (Australia) and Matias Furlong (Argentina/Australia/Singapore).  Jake Ednie Brown from Kojonup, Western Australia, was awarded the Most Valuable Player prize.

The arrival of Agha Murtaza Khan as visiting coach this year changed KLAP’s coaching landscape. His passionate but technical coaching brought out the best in our polo students.

Players loved his his style of coaching.  Agha was in Malaysia just four months, but it fair to say he had a huge effect on KL Academy of Polo, and the club.  Not only was he a very good coach, but as an HPA umpire, he was also able to umpire the club’s tournaments, saving the club thousands in professional umpire fees.

As players quickly progressed, we increased the number of Instructional Chukkas, playing on Wednesdays (WICs), Fridays (FRICs) and Sundays (SICs).  We got quite a few players from overseas, as the fame of our FRICs, WICS and SICs spread.

We also held a few Big Field FRICs, giving players the opportunity of playing on the #1 field.

In all, an astounding 55 Instructional Chukka days were held.

With Agha, we created two new tournaments, the KLAP-KLPC Polo Challenge and the KLAP Open.  Both were huge successes.

The KLAP-KLPC Polo Challenge was a concept tournament that Coach Agha came up with.

It was a 2-chukka tournament played with one pro on each novice team.  While the pro could coach in the opposition half, he could only play defence, and not actively play himself in attack.

Five teams took part in this concept tournament, played on 15^th and 16^th June 2023.

 

It was really good fun, and excellent experience even for seasoned players who rarely have a chance to do it all for themselves on the polo field.

It was a game-changer that revealed players for what they really are.  Not everyone liked what they got, but it also resulted in more lessons for KL Academy of Polo as players who wanted to improve then took up their own challenge.

The KLAP Open was the culmination of a season’s work.  It marked a graduation for the KLAP players that had been mentored, by Coach Agha Murtaza and myself, from being students to running their own games.  The KLAP Open is a really important tournament in a players journey from beginner, to player.

Played over eight chukkas, The KLAP Open pitted two teams of KL Academy of Polo trainees against each other.  While the coaches offered advice, teams decided on their own positions and tactics.

 

At the KLAP Open, we also presented season-ending prizes.  Here is the full list of winners:

 

Coach Agha was a big part of the success of KLAP in 2023, and we hope to be able to bring him back to Malaysia again.

Through the year, the polo school had a zero accident safety record in that there were no serious injuries to players.  We are also very thankful that there were no serious injuries to our ponies.  It is a record we are very proud and thankful to have.

KL Academy of Polo also organised four non-polo events, including one for C-Suite members of The Economist Intelligence Corporate Network.  Through EICN, we welcomed the CEO’s, COO’s or CFO’s of some the most important companies in Malaysia to the Polo Club for an introduction to riding and polo.

The Nala Cushion Polo World Cup and the KLAsado were fantastic off-season events.  The Christmas Eve Champagne Ride was just icing on the Christmas cake.

A few groups came from Singapore to play with or against us.  Colts Polo from Singapore managed only one chukka in March before rain changed the plan to become a great Cushion Polo match.  The second leg in August was more exciting as we played to a draw on the main field.  We had a lovely dinner at the MiCasa in March, but the Karasado – Karaoke and Asado – in August was a bum-buster of a night.

These visits were reciprocated by an invitation to play in Colts International Arena Polo Tournament in December.  Our team of Ben Au (C), Christina Sorensen and Karen Stockbridge did well in their first arena tournament, and on strange horses.

Tours

Not content with just these events at the Kuala Lumpur Polo Club, KL Academy of Polo also ran six events away from home.

The Terengganu Endurance Ride in March with FEI World #1 Dato’ Awang Kamaruddin was a huge success.  Karen Stockbridge, Mira Ajaib and KC Woon and Linda Lee spent a weekend at the Terengannu International Endurance Park, learning about Endurance riding from former FEI World #1 Datuk Awang Kamaruddin.

In June, we decided to see what is just down the road from us, and went to a Day at the Races at the Selangor Turf Club.  It was so much fun that we had another Day at the Races in October.

We got to see the inner workings of the stipendiary steward’s inquiry room, the official weighing room, jockey’s rooms, and watched the racehorses parade before races.  Some even had the chance to lead in a winner.  A Day at the Races was so much fun, we went for a second day in October too.

Natasha and I went to The Royal Tour of Chitral and the Shandur Polo Festival with Datuk Kannan, and Datin Joanne Lopez from Malaysia, Neville and Gillian Stewart from Australia, and Glenn Cheng from Singapore.  It was the second time we have organised a trip to the highest most polo field in the world, to watch freestyle mountain polo with no rules.

Going to Shandur again was another wonderful trip.  With attendant masseuse and bar tenders, a food blogger curating our every meal, this was a royal tour.

Colts Polo inviting us to their International Arena Polo Tournament in Singapore in early December.  Unfortunately, it coincided with my trip to Argentina, so 3-goal Waqas Khan took over coaching duties in Singapore.  It was a valuable learning experience playing indoor polo on the sand, for our players, Karen Stockbridge, Christina Sorensen and Ben Au.

The Argentine Open Polo Tour this year was fantastic.  We played some excellent polo at Gines Bargallo’s Santa Agueda Polo Club in Fatima, Pilar.  We organised visits to Logi Mallets, Botas Lascano, Tacos Top, Aperos Pilar, and polo fashion shops like La Martina, La Dolfina and Arandu.

As spectators, we watched some amazing games, at Ellerstina, La Ensenada, Thai Polo, the AAP grounds, and at Palermo, the Cathedral of Polo.  This included the semi-finals of the 28-goal Camara de Diputados,  and final.  Of the 40-goal Argentine Open, we got to see both amazing semi-finals, and the great final  between La Dolfina and La Natividad, and the Ladies Open.

It was truly a wonderful trip, much more than just any playing trip.  It was polo immersion at its very best.  It was Epic Argentina.

Apprentices

KL Academy of Polo provided two days of training for Apprentice Jockeys training of the Selangor Turf Club.   It was done to give them an equine experience different to their racing upbringing.  This was arranged through the Apprentice School’s mentor and Chief Stipendiary Steward, Fin Powrie.

Tote Board of Malaysia’s CEO Puan Nor Hashimah attended the very dynamic session and was amazed at how quickly the students picked up the art of riding one handed and swinging a mallet to hit the ball.

Speaking of apprentices, Julian Lancia – our 16 year old trainee not only has the lowest body fat index at 7%, he has also become the highest handicapped amateur and teen player in Malaysia.

Julian had a great tournament season.  It started for him winning the KLPC Low Goal, with Ameer Jumabhoy, Aimann Suhaimi  and myself, in May, with KLARITA, and amalgamation of KLAP and La Sarita.

Julian was easily the MVP of the tournament.

In the KL Polo Open by Rolls Royce Julian was given a game with the Hot Shotz, the young members team that took the experienced elders right to the final bell in a game that will be remembered for the young talent and experienced know-how on show.  That was his first shot at playing a competitive 8-goal game.

Julian also won the Tan Sri Jamaludin Jarjis Cup in August, playing with fellow KLAPstars Emily Cheah and Kayser Khan, Ameer Jumabhoy and Agustin Andrada in the La Sarita team.   While it was only a 2-goal tournament, it would be the last time Julian played off a -1 handicap.

The RMPA raised Julian’s handicap from -1 to +1 despite him not even playing in a single RMPA tournament this year.  That’s how well they rated him, and they are not wrong about him.   Julian takes his sports very seriously – Julian works out or rides almost every morning before school.  He does on-line equine courses at the University of Guelph.  It is not a surprise that Julian is the first double promotion from a minus to a plus handicap in living memory.

KL Pony Club

Being the only Malaysian club affiliated with The Pony Club (UK), we held 10 KL Pony Club events this year.  There were nine pony club rallies and day camps.  Our riders also took part in an on-line competition organised by the Hong Kong Pony Club.  Mona Bukavic did every well to finish fourth in her international dressage class.  Our Christmas Pony Club Camp was a huge success, with a fancy dress on horseback, and with  Santa putting on a magical show.

The plans for 2024 are to continue with four camps per year: March, June, October and December, and six one or two day rallies.  We will use two associated rallies to offer Achievement Badges that can be earned.  There will also be two visits to other riding schools in Malaysia, to learn about different equestrian related sports, such as carriage driving.

Horse Shows

KL Academy of Polo was also involved in four Horse Shows at the KL Polo Club.  This included our own KLAP-KLPC Training Show, two CSI Internationals organised by the Equestrian Association of Malaysia, and a Gymkhana that we organized as part of the Tan Sri Jamaludin Jarjis Cup.

We also ended the year with an epic Nala Cushion Polo World Cup and KLAsado.

Our KLAP Ponies

Our ponies did very well this year.  Playing in 55 FRICs, WICs and SICs is no mean feat when you consider they also played proper tournament polo in the KLPC Low Goal, KL Polo Classic, KL Polo Open, 2nd Malaysia Youth Polo Tournament, Tan Sri Jamaludin Jarjis Cup, KLPC-KLAP Polo Challenge and KLAP Open.

Since August this year, Kuala Lumpur Academy of Polo has been feeding a fresh Napier Grass, called Nutrenics Green. It is a hybrid Napier grass that is treated with prebiotics and cut fresh, to a length of not less than 5 cm, bagged and delivered to us the same day, from a farm in Gemas, Negri Sembilan.

Being grown in Malaysia, it doesn’t have to be imported, taxed, fumigated or stored.

It helps too that while the horses’ top-line is in great condition, the bottom line of our profit and loss statement is in better shape too!

Nutrenics Green has tested their product for Oxalates, a common problem in tropical grasses, and have reported that excellent news that the reading of Oxalic Acid is extremely low and so well below safety levels that it is not a concern at all.

The testament to this is how well all the horses look and continue to perform at KL Academy of Polo.

We held a vote for the Most Valuable Pony of the Season, and the winner was Gatillo.

Gatillo is a reddish bay that I found at Gines Bargallo’s place in Fatima in 2019.  I enjoyed playing this little fellow so much I kept asking to play him.  Gatillo has an on-the-ball attitude.  Great temperament, very positive and wants to do well for the player.  Gatillo actually has quite a lot of speed when you ask for it, and I think Gatillo will do well even in our medium goal and high goal for a patron.  With his pleasing attitude, Gatillo is a great pony that everyone is happy to play.

Thank You

None of our success could have happened without your support – from the riding school students, polo players, and especially the President and committee members, and every member of the Kuala Lumpur Polo Club.  You have all made us stronger, work harder, and we hope, serve you better than ever.

At every event, every horse show, every polo tournament, we strive to do better, to improve what we do, and to provide a service that you, our clients enjoy.

We thank our supporters who have sponsored events, especially Datuk Kannan Baba of Majestic Horses, Jennifer Too and World of Feng Shui, Lisette Scheers and Nala Designs, Love 18, Mitavite Asia, and even if we do thank ourselves, Zack’s Tack, who sponsor every show, every tournament, everything we do.

None of this would happen without a team of people, and I am blessed to have a partner in Natasha Mustapha, who supports everything we do with all our design work for media, apparel, and runs Zack’s Tack, and even the KL Pony Club just for fun.  Our son, Zack Abisheganaden has been a revelation, with his handling of clients and with administration.

Our Coaches, Ali, Chris Ladbrook, Negin Barhardar and Suresh Soundarajan were all stars in their own ways.  Jassy made the switch from Zack’s Tack to KLAP like a pro, and Shireen slotted seamlessly into Zack’s Tack to hold the fort and as our first line of defence!

Our grooms were special too.  Thanks to Wahid, Atan, Hartono, Sallam, Roni, Hartono, Atan, and Herman, who stay with us going into 2024.

We all hope 2024 will be an even better year for the Riding School, Polo Academy, KL Pony Club, and all our students and horses.

From the bottom of our hearts, we all thank you.

Peter Ibrahim Abisheganaden
Chief Riding Instructor and Managing Director
Kuala Lumpur Academy of Polo