Adrian Kirby is the patron of the Silver Spring 1870 polo team, playing alongside legendary riders John Paul Clarkin, Ruki Baillieu and Rob Archibald.
The 1870 polo team achieved a convincing victory over El Remanso in the second group stage of the Gold Cup. The win followed a tense and exciting game at Cowdray Park.
The game, on Wednesday 13 July, saw 1870 beat El Remanso by an impressive 9-6. 1870 gained the all-important early lead, an advantage they held on to throughout the thrilling match despite strong challenges.
On Sunday 3 July, Adrian Kirby's 1870 team accomplished a close 11-10 victory over challengers Thai Polo. The match at Cowdray Park saw star player John Paul Clarkin's return to the 1870 team after he suffered a neck injury.
Adrian Kirby and 1870 narrowly missed out on a place in the prestigious Queen's Cup final with a 10-9 loss against Enigma on Thursday 9 June. It had all looked very different in the early stages of the game. 1870 were on flying form, defying the showers which marred much of the game and Adrian Kirby's squad were 3-1 up at the end of the first chukka. When Enigma failed to score at all in the second, it looked like it was going to be 1870's day.
However, Enigma got into their stride and with a half-time score of 5-3 to 1870, the game had opened up. The match had a tense finish with Enigma scoring a superb goal in the seventh chukka to ensure their place in the semi-final. Ironically, the winning shot was the first time Enigma had taken the lead in the match.
1870 had faced up to first class team La Bamba de Areco in the third round of the Queen's Cup. The match, on Sunday 29 May, was well fought but despite narrowing La Bamba's lead, 1870 was unable to overtake and finished the match 11-8.
In the second round of the Queen's Cup on Wednesday 25 May, Adrian Kirby and 1870 easily dominated opponents Jager le Coulture to win by an impressive 13-6. The match gave 1870 a 2-0 win/loss position in their league. At this point they top the bracket and the tournament with the biggest difference in goals scored. This makes Adrian’s Australasian side strong contenders to qualify for the final stages of the 2011 Queen’s Cup.
Adrian's 1870 team earlier built on their magnificent Tyro Cup victory with a first round win over Aravalli in the Queens Cup at Guards Polo Club. 1870 played confidently in the match at Brooksfield in Sussex on Wednesday 18 May to defeat Aravalli 13-9.
1870 had a fantastic start to the 2011 polo season by being crowned winners of the presitgious Tyro Cup at Cowdray Park. A thrilling final match on Sunday 8 May saw the 1870 team secure an impressive 9-3 win against opponents Ferne Park. 1870 took an early lead and stayed comfortably ahead of Ferne Park to ensure they walked away with the coveted title.
Adrian's team had already achieved a 7-5 win against opponents Salked in the second round of the Tyro Cup on Sunday 1 May. After storming to an early lead of 5-0, there was a tense second half as Salked clawed their way back to 5-3. But 1870 kept their nerve and were deserved winners of the well fought match.
The 1870 team kicked off the 2011 polo season on Sunday 24 April with an impressive 9-3 win against Maize Dulce in first round of the Tyro Cup. The team (Adrian Kirby, Rob Archibald, Lanto Sheridan and James Rome) performed well with excellent positioning and confident attacking.
This year 1870 will also be competing in the Veuve Cliqout Gold Cup and the Queen’s Cup.
Polo is one of Adrian’s greatest passions and he plans his year around the British polo season. He runs his own stables from his stunning estate in Surrey and can often be seen brushing up his game at Guards, Coworth Park and Cowdray Park.
Silver Spring 1870 is a corporate sponsor of Guards Polo Club, Europe's leading polo club and home to many of the world's top matches throughout the polo season.
The premier tournaments are the Queen's Cup, Royal Windsor and the Archie David, which all take place in June. In July each year, the club is host to the Hurlingham Polo Association's Cartier International Day, the largest spectator polo event in the world.
Adrian's team had a very impressive 2010 season, winning the Midhurst Town Cup at Cowdray Park and the Ivan the Terrible challenge at Guards Polo Club. They also reached the semi-finals of the prestigious Veuve Cliqout Gold Cup.
At his beautiful Surrey home and stables, Adrian Kirby and the Silver Spring 1870 polo team talk about the bastion of English polo Cowdray Park, the 2010 Gold Cup tournament and Adrian's support of the game.
On May 29th 2010 the sixth annual Ivan the Terrible Twilight Polo Challenge was held in the impressive setting of Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park. The challenge pitched Team UK against Team Moscow and as a member of Guards and a keen polo player, Adrian Kirby was asked to play on the UK team. The challenge was a thrilling ‘cold war’ of a polo match with both teams battling to win the coveted Ivan the Terrible title and after 8 nail biting chukkas, Team UK came out on top taking the title by 9 goals to 5. The event was definitely one of the highlights of the Guards polo calendar. It was attended by royalty and some of the most respected figures in international polo.
Sunday 11th July 2010 saw the Silver Spring 1870 team take to the fields of Cowdray Park once more to take part in the quarter finals of the Gold Cup. There was much anticipation for the first of the knock out games which would either mean progression to in the tournament or a long horse ride into the sunset. After a thrilling first half which saw each team putting all of their efforts into playing the field and a succession of goals, Silver Spring 1870 pulled out in front, leading El Remanso by 1 goal.
As the second half got underway, the competing side began to push back with some stunning turns and back shots. The Silver Spring 1870 men played on bravely matching the competition shot for shot throughout the second half but ultimately El Remanso were victorious with a 14-11 win.
The second match of Silver Spring 1870's Gold Cup tournament saw the team pitched against the legendary Dubai team, renowned for their fast, furious and flawless style of play. Things got off to a tough start for Silver Spring 1870 as Adolfo Cambiaso, Dubai's 10 goal player and the man touted to be the best player in the world, was on formidable form, smashing six goals home in the first chukka to Silver Spring 1870's two.
As the game entered the second chukka it looked as though Silver Spring 1870 would find it difficult to come back against the might of Dubai. However; JP Clarkin and Rob Archibald quickly settled into the game and began playing incredibly well, peppering play with quick turns and thundering shots, racking up the goals and giving Dubai a real run for their money.
Adrian Kirby and Ruki Ballieu also had remarkable games. Kirby's ability to stay on the ball left the Silver Spring 1870 supporters whooping and cheering in support; a certain Nina Clarkin was particularly enthusiastic about Adrian Kirby's efforts. Unfortunately, Ruki; one of Team Silver Spring 1870's star players, was injured in the second half and had to be escorted off the field and replaced with a 6 goal player from the sidelines.
After a match filled with terrifying pace and precision, Dubai clinched victory with a 13 - 12 victory over Silver Spring 1870. Dubai's one goal victory was not enough to end Silver Spring 1870's Gold Cup campaign.
Adrian Kirby talks to PoloLine TV about his team Silver Spring 1870 and the 2010 English polo season. Kirby's team showed formidable form throughout the season, reaching the final stages of the prestigious Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup at historic Cowdray Park.
International news channel Press TV interview Silver Spring Team 1870 patron Adrian Kirby as well as other team members of the polo team.
