Horses gallop on Lagos polo ground for honours

A record 39 teams are contesting for honours at the ongoing 2020 Lagos International Polo tournament which entered day 5 on Sunday.

Organisers said the presence of foreign professionals fortified with thoroughbred Argentine horses had made the event more competitive ahead of the final day on February 15.

Four major cup categories, The Silver Cup, The Lagos Low Cup, The Open Cup and the event’s biggest prize, the Majekodunmi Cup, are being contested for.

Four subsidiary prizes, the Oba of Lagos, the Governor Cup, the Italian Ambassador’s Cup and the Independence Cup are also on offer at the tournament, whose history dates back to 1900.

Seyi Oyinlola, the tournament manager, said no hitches had been recorded so far.

“We are excited to have competitors from Argentina, United Kingdom and South Africa feature here and this has only underscored the fact that this is the premier polo competition in Nigeria,” Oyinlola said.

Ayo Olashoju, president of the Lagos polo club, also said the upgraded ground had given competitors the edge they deserved.

“The groundsmen have done a wonderful job, considering the pressure, hence the texture has been maintained admirably,” he said.