Six teams representing all five continents competing in Rome during last week-end in the
3rd International University Polo Challenge (IUPC). The tournament aiming to bring
together the best university players in the world and, as in previous two years, has been
hosted at the prestigious Acquedotto Romano Polo Club, just outside the ‘eternal city’.
The exciting final match (3 chukkers) was played between Cornell (Ithaca-New York),
winner of IUPC 2014, and University of London Polo Club (London).
The British polo team, including Natascha Hedegaard, Arthur Cole-Fontayn, Reda Shetty,
James Cooper, dominated the scene from the first chukker and won the final (6-4) despite
Cornell (three girls and the captain Hakan Karabey, the only one competing in the 2014
winner team) did one impressive third chukker, scoring 3 goals.
In the other finals, Sydney beat Lahore (6-5) for 3rd and 4th place and Accra defeated
Princeton (3-2) for 5th and 6th place.
Kristina Karailieva – President of University of London Polo Club, the university
association that gathers players (75 at the time) from all major universities in London:
“We were aware that they can win – but we feared that Cornell appeared very motivated after the
victory of 2014. I think the joke of Peter Elser on the day of the presentation was a good omen but
also a spur to our team. Our team is the only one who participated in 2013 and 2014, and Peter
‘teased’ us wondering ‘if we would ever be able to win’.
Reda Shetty – University of London Polo Club, Playing for third time in the IUCP:
“As always polo was fantastic. We have enjoyed our stay in Rome more over we took advantage of
all the opportunities that the ‘eternal city’ as to offer. The tournament has grown a lot and I think it
can become one of the most expected events in the international polo calendar scene. Peter has really
got a great insight including showing remarkable skills to organize an event of such great success”.
Peter Elser – Head of the event management:
“I have just graduated but I will certainly continue organizing this tournament. In the world
university scene polo has become very active for this reason the climate is different. It is a moment
where strong friendships can be established and where inter cultural exchanges can be made on and
off the polo field”.