April 2003

In April we start getting our horses fit for the summer season in England. We are looking forward to seeing all our friends in Berkshire again and some great polo with tasty barbeques to follow.

See you all very soon..............

Kim & Carlitos  

 

El Rincon Tournament

29th and 30th March 2003

El Rincon is one of the most important Estancia's in the region with 40,000 hectares and a main house dating back to 1830 this Estancia was built by the great grandfather of one of the regular players at Mar del Plata Polo Club.  Juanito is well know to our visitors as one of the nicest, most welcoming and funniest members of Mar del Plata Polo club. 

 

This weekend Juanito invited all the regular members and friends from Mar del Plata Polo Club to a private tournament at his Estancia " El Rincon".

Forty years ago an airstrip for the Estancia was cut out of the pasture land between the Balcarce mountains. Then they found it could be doubled as polo fields, the grounds are excellent and it is not used as an airfield any more!

 

Very exciting polo, four teams played over the two days with the presentations straight after the final on Sunday, with massive trophies presented to each team member with mate and media lunas served to all players and spectators after the matches.

 

After the polo on Saturday, we all walked over to the Estancia and the family welcomed all those invited to the polo tournament to an asado in the evening, an adaso is a tradional Argentine barbeque where whole lambs are cooked over a fire slowly for at least four hours. After a glass of wine and singing around the fire, we ate in the matera a special out house with a wonderful open fire where people traditional drank mate and cook parillas in the winter months.

After the polo of course there is the swimming pool to cool down in. The Estancia is a fantastic place to stay for the weekend, with all the original furniture from the late 19th Century and on the desk in the study can be found a very interesting accounts ledger for the Estancia for the years 1849 and 1850.

 

While waiting for the lamb to cook we took a walk in the forest next to the house. The scenery and countryside at this Estancia is just spectacular, a stream runs next to the polo grounds and all through the forest. This stream starts from natural springs in the mountains and meanders through the Estancia and finishes about one hundred  kilometres away in Mar Chiqita.

 

This stream attracts huge amounts of wildlife.

Herons, Stalks, Wild ducks and Coots to name but a few.

Gallareta feeding on the flatlands.

As the stream opens up more as it leaves the forest onto the plains, Beavers can be seen swimming, playing and cleaning themselves on the flatland.

Argentina at its best. A weekend to remember for ever!

If you would like to play here next year, book this weekend and have a polo holiday to remember.