Story written By Jacqueline Hooper
For the first time in what is believed to be over 1500 years women’s international polo was again played in Iran last month when Kanoon Chogan Polo Club, Tehran hosted international women’s teams from Australia, Iran and England for a tri-nations tournament.
The tournament witnessed polo truly return to its roots since it was in ancient Persia, now Iran, that the first recorded polo game took place in 600 BC, with women’s polo being recorded as early as the 4th Century AD. Iran is also home to the world’s oldest known
polo field at Naqshe Jahan Square in Isfahan, visited by the teams, where the marble goal posts still stand at each end the field which dates from the 16th Century AD.
The tournament organizers, the Iranian Polo Federation, invited each of Australia and England to send a team to compete. The Australian Team was captained by Jacqueline Hooper (0) from NSW and comprised Justine Henwood (-1) from WA at number 1; Liz Addams Williams (0) from SA at number 2; Jacqueline Hooper at number 3; and Gillian
McCall (-2) from NSW at back. Tex Webster (4) from WA was based at Kanoon Chogan Polo Club over the international and gave the Australian team invaluable coaching support.
The first match saw England, captained by Caroline Giles (0 goals), prevail over Iran by 12 goals to 6 following an exciting game where the Iranian girls cut their teeth and made their international debut. The following day Australia met Iran in the second match. Iran started with a 1 1/2 goal lead which was surrendered in the first half following goals from Liz Addams Williams, Jacqueline Hooper and Justine Henwood. Both Katayoon Jalaie and captain, Ghazaleh Amir Ebrahimi found the goal in spectacular style for Iran but despite the Iranian team finding their groove and displaying superior team work to previous day Australia triumphed by 7 goals to 4 1/2.
The final witnessed the winning teams from the previous matches, ustralia and England, go head to head in a fast paced game which had the spectators at the edge of their seats. Jacqueline Hooper quickly scored the first goal adding to Australia’s 1/2 goal handicap
lead already on the board. England however wasted little time in replying and despite strong defensive play from Australia and another goal from Jacqueline Hooper, goals from Caroline Giles (0), Heloise Lorentzen (0) and Anna Williamson (-1) put England in front by half a goal during the second chukka. Australia then suffered a significant blow when Jacqueline Hooper had a serious fall, her horse coming down at speed. Despite a broken finger and severe bruising Jacqueline elected to play on, Australia determined to find a win. A further 2 goals from Jacqueline Hooper kept Australia in contention during the second half but sadly despite Australia’s consistent team work England closed with a lead of 1 1/2 goals to win the tournament with a score of 6 goals to Australia’s 4 1/2.
The tournament excited significant interest from the Iranian and international press and was attended by a number of invited VIPs including the ambassadors for both Australia and England. Spectators were evocatively seated on rich Persian Carpets in the stands,
men and women being seated in separate sections. The tournament also threw a new challenge at the visiting teams in the form of the need to comply with Islamic law, including Islamic dress code. The women were required to remain covered, aside from face and hands, even when on the polo field. The Iranian Polo Federation thoughtfully
designed a national strip for each team comprising a tailored, long sleeved, cotton, knee length, over jacket or manteau (in gold for Australia). The manteau was worn by the players with flowing white head scarves to cover their hair under the polo hats. Despite
the soaring temperatures which were still in the 30’s Celsius even at 5pm when the matches were played, the players quickly adapted to their new polo garb and rapidly forgot about it once distracted by play. If anything it added colour to the scene and the teams’ experiences.
The hospitality shown to the teams by the Polo Federation of Iran in particular its president Mr. Hamzeh Ilkhanizadeh, his wife Pari and son Siamack, together with the Polo Federation Secretary, Mr. Houman Bagheri was overwhelming. The Ilkhanizadeh family who founded Kanoon Chogan Polo Club mounted all 3 teams from its string. No
mean feat as it required pooling of in the region of 40 ponies to mount the players and umpires. The players were given the freedom of the grounds of the club with its world class facilities throughout their stay. The teams were accommodated in the Ilkhanizadeh’s home at the club, purpose built to accommodate a number of polo teams at any one time
in their own luxurious suites. Each evening the Ilkhanizadeh’s and their world class chef showcased Iranian gastronomic delights for the players, whether at an intimate buffet for the teams or at one of the many parties thrown by the Polo Federation.
The Polo Federation also arranged for the players to see an enormous amount of cultural interest during their stay both in Tehran and Isfahan. Isfahan struck a particular resonance being the home of the historic polo field at Naqshe Jahan Square. Isfahan, a UNESCO
World Heritage site, is considered to offer one of the most beautiful cityscapes in the world, a claim the veracity of which the players can now attest to. The history of the city is steeped in polo or “chogan” as it known in Iran. The artisans of Isfahan, famous for their ceramics, metal work and miniature paintings, draw mainly on historic scenes of
polo played in the Naqshe Jahan Square for their inspiration. This provided the opportunity for the players to truly blow out their luggage limit, traveling home with stick bags bursting with “chogan” objet d’art.
The tournament was truly special in so many ways not least because it illustrated the ability of the sport of polo and the players’ love of it to reach across political barriers and engender a strong spirit of cooperation at what was a time of escalated strife and unrest in
the Middle East. The tournament forged friendships between the teams and their hosts and memories for the teams that will last a life time. The image of the women retiring from the field at dusk to the sounds of the call to prayer echoing across the ground from the nearby mosque is one that will stay with everyone for some years to come.