Kenya Polo Rocked By Death Of Star Pony Baronessa

NAIROBI, Kenya- Former Kenya Open International champions, Samurai, are mourning the death of award-winning and best playing pony, Baronessa that rose to be one of the most accomplished stars of the domestic and international circuit.

Baronessa, ridden by Hiromi Nzomo, sadly died at Nairobi Polo Club last Saturday after colliding with Kigen Moi’s horse in the first chukka of the Mugs Mug Polo Tournament plate semis where Samurai took on Cruise Control.

“Baronessa snapped her humerus following the collision,” handicap 2.5 and Samurai captain, Raphael Nzomo reported.

Samurai, comprised of Raphael and his children, Hiromi (handicap 0), Jadini (-1) and Amani (-1) were forced to pull out of the contest following the unfortunate incident.

This gifted Cruise Control composed of Moi (handicap 2), Kigen Moi (1), Will Millar (0) and Natasha Tismin (-0.5) with a berth in the final where they edged Solovino 5-4 to lift the Plate title.

Animal lover 

“I’m an animal lover. I have deep connections with them and Baronessa’s death has made a turning point for me in polo,” Hiromi, who escaped with a slight limp, mourned.

“I’ll have to consider if I want to continue playing polo because Baronessa was so dear to me,” the second year medical student at Newcastle University in Perth, Australia, disclosed.

“We opted out of the event in solidarity with my daughter who was greatly affected by the incident.

“Baronessa owned by Hiromi was the most revered horse in the country. She was a triple best playing pony and a cup winner,” Raphael stressed.

The departed steed helped the country win two successive Kenya International Six-Goal titles in 2016 and last year where she scooped the Best Playing Pony Award.

“She was the best horse I have ever ridden in my life, Baronessa was so good she could play in the Argentina Open which is the highest rated polo tournament in the world,” emphasized South African national team player and handicap six hard-hitter, Brad McGibbons who won Kenya International saddling the horse in September.

Ridden by Zambian handicap six charger, Gareth Evans, Baronessa won the Best Playing Pony Award during Kenya versus Zambia test match held in Timau in May 2017.

“Baronessa was amazing, she gave me easy time on pitch, she lessened fifty percent of my work in the field,” Evans eulogised.

Richard Stonewigg, one of the best polo players in the country, bred Baronessa.

“I bought Baronessa as a gift for Hiromi from Stonewigg, little did we know that she would grow to be one of the best horses in Kenya. The country has lost a very competent pony.

“Baronessa was very athletic, agile and extremely clever. She could outrun, out-turn and muscle any horse in the field of play,” the gutted Samurai skipper added.

-Report by Erick Ochieng for SportPesa News

Baronessa Best Playing Pony Awards

1. Kenya International Six –Goal Tournament-2017

2. Kenya International Polo Cup-2017

3. Kenya vs Zambia Test Match-2017

4. Maria Bencivenga Cup-2018

5. Soldiers Salute Cup-2018

6. Chairman’s Cup-2018

Mugs Mug 2018 Tournament Collated Results

Main Cup Final

Stonefish & Urchins 6 Hoof Hearted 4

Plate Final

Cruise Control 5 Solovino 4

Bowl Final

Off Beat 5 Work In Progress 0

Shield Final

Stray Dogs 6 Talent Search 5.5

Preliminaries

One Millar Lite 6.5 Cruise Control 5

Turkish Delight 8 Stray Dogs 5

Talent Search 8 Work In Progress 2

Hoof Hearted 6 One Millar 5

Stonefish & Urchin 7 Off Beat 5

Turkish Delight 7 Solovino 5

Hoof Hearted 7 Talent Search 1

Stonefish & Urchins 5 Turkish Delight 1