Tommy Beresford
Horse & Hound|June 29, 2023
With a Westchester Cup victory against the USA on his debut as England captain, polo player Tommy Beresford tells Sarah Eakin about grafting that win and the heritage of some special ponies
Sarah Eakin
Tommy Beresford

IF polo players were horses, and identified by their bloodlines, then Tomas – aka Tommy – Beresford would have come from good stock. His father and his two uncles on his mother’s side were all professional players and Tommy learnt the game from playing with polo legends. He has South American roots from his Chilean mother, Teresa Beresford, but he didn’t need to go looking for them – Argentina and the stars of Palermo came to him.

“To be a professional was always a dream of mine,” he says. “And I was very fortunate to be based at Great Trippets Farm, owned by George Milford Haven. My father [Charles Beresford] was the manager, so I always had a place to play practices and have all my horses. I was able to play polo with my father and my uncles and whichever high-goal players were based there.”

Tommy grew up playing alongside the likes of Gonzalito and Facundo Pieres, Matias and Pablo Macdonough, Pelon Sterling, Juan Martín Nero – all of them at the top of the modern polo pyramid. He had the influence of his father, a seven-goal professional, and his mother’s brothers, José and Gabriel Donoso, the latter of whom was a formidable nine-goal player.

“I was very lucky to have this close contact with these top professionals at an early age,” he says.

THIS year, Tommy takes the field with the same team-mates as last year in the UAE Polo Team 22-goal line-up, as they start a campaign for the Gold Cup for the British Open Championship at Cowdray Park. It is a rarity for high-goal teams to stay together for more than one season and it is a phenomenon that could pay dividends.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 29, 2023 من Horse & Hound.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 29, 2023 من Horse & Hound.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من HORSE & HOUND مشاهدة الكل
Super Sonic steps up
Horse & Hound

Super Sonic steps up

Oakley Nash lands a 128cm double with \"wild\" project pony and a determined 138cm rider is in flying form

time-read
2 mins  |
March 06, 2025
Townend takes two
Horse & Hound

Townend takes two

A familiar face and a potential future star triumph for Oliver Townend, as the eventing season gets under way

time-read
4 mins  |
March 06, 2025
Last-minute dash ends in triumph
Horse & Hound

Last-minute dash ends in triumph

A change of plan leads to victory and a home-bred star proves that talent runs in the family

time-read
1 min  |
March 06, 2025
William's the Lad
Horse & Hound

William's the Lad

It's back-to-back victories in the hunt race he sponsors for a delighted – and generous – William Fox Grant

time-read
3 mins  |
March 06, 2025
Saving Britain's in-hand show tradition
Horse & Hound

Saving Britain's in-hand show tradition

Kim Wilson investigates how Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain is tackling the decline of in-hand classes and working to secure the future of youngstock

time-read
4 mins  |
March 06, 2025
'This unspoilt hunting heaven
Horse & Hound

'This unspoilt hunting heaven

A visit by the RS Surtees Society to Northumberland provides a showcase for the Percy hounds and their hunting country

time-read
6 mins  |
March 06, 2025
Local hero is all heart
Horse & Hound

Local hero is all heart

A Borders team lifts Scotland's richest hurdle for the second year with a gutsy six-year-old and a £1,000 purchase richly rewards a patient owner

time-read
2 mins  |
March 06, 2025
Access all areas Gavin Cromwell
Horse & Hound

Access all areas Gavin Cromwell

The former farrier is sending his strongest team of Cheltenham Festival runners yet. Jennifer Donald meets the team behind a remarkable success story

time-read
7 mins  |
March 06, 2025
Saffron Cresswell
Horse & Hound

Saffron Cresswell

The young event rider, who suffered a serious spinal injury in a fall last year, talks to Pippa Roome about her journey so far and what the future holds

time-read
8 mins  |
March 06, 2025
Daphne
Horse & Hound

Daphne

This contrary mare may spin like a top and be uncatchable in the summer, but she's \"terrifyingly brave\" and absolutely brilliant in the hunting field

time-read
2 mins  |
March 06, 2025