Hosted by Hammetts Hotel, the horsemen of the steppe are in port! Team Mongolia makes its historic debut on Saturday, June 6 at 5:00 PM, opening Newport Polo’s 150th Diamond Jubilee season in spectacular fashion. Representing one of the world’s great equestrian cultures, Mongolia has traversed the 6,000mile jouruney from the vast steppes of Central Asia to the seaside fields of Rhode Island. These accomplished riders bring a rich heritage of horsemanship to challenge Team USA in what promises to be an unforgettable Opening Day showdown. Following the final chukker, players and guests will celebrate this landmark occasion together.
The Khans of the Saddle:
Rentsensharav Oldokh (Team Captain) – Known to friends as “Rentsen,” this +3 handicap player is Mongolia’s highest-rated polo talent. Rentsen has spent the last 12 years going to New Zealand and playing out of Christchurch Polo Club, travelling around New Zealand and playing there. Rentsen is an avid horse trainer and now has a few of his own race horses in the Orkhon Valley region. During his childhood Rentsen was a very successful childhood jockey competing in Nadaams around Mongolia. He won over 40 races riding for some of the best Horse Trainers and even competed in the National Nadaam where there were over 330 horses in the race start covering a distance of 32km.
Dorjpalam Battumur – has spent quite a few years in New Zealand, plying his trade in the North Island. Palam is also from the Orkhon Valley and between himself, his father and brothers they look after some 1000 heads of animals (horses, yaks, goats, sheep). Palam is also a great Mongolian Wrestler, having competed from a young age and succeeding in various tournaments before focusing on a career of animal husbandry. Palam holds a handicap of +1 and back in 2019 was nominated as the Best Young Player in the North Island, they even gave him the nickname “The Smiling Assassin.”
D’Artagnan Giercke – spent his summers riding and playing with Rentsen and Palam. All three of them are roughly the same age, mid-late 20s. The summers were spent racing, wrestling and playing polo. During High School and College D’Artagnan spent time playing in the UK and as a result also found jobs/opportunities to travel around the world and play in a multitude of places ranging from Philippines to Switzerland. In 2016 given the opportunity to takeover the Genghis Khan Polo Club in Mongolia he did so with his business partner Ang Tshering Lama and now spends his summers in Mongolia playing with friends and guests alike. D’Artagnan spent 4 years playing the UK circuit ranging in tournaments from 0 – 18 goals.
Kristina-Alegra Giercke – is the latest player to join up with the older players. Having learnt to ride and play at the Genghis Khan Polo Club, she also attended the Young Riders of the World Charity, which teaches local nomadic children the sport of polo. All players in the team spent their summers at the YROTW, eventually playing with the more senior players at the Club. She is now at College in the UK and rides and plays Arena and Outdoor Polo there.
Meet the Team at Cooke House by eVite RSVP only, request to info@newportpolo.com.