NEWS

David Paradice is a name that has become synonymous with success in the world of polo. The Australian player has been making headlines since he first played in the Gauntlet of Polo in 2021 at the age of 62, alongside polo legend Adolfo Cambiaso and Cambiaso's son, Poroto. That year, he won both the USPA Gold Cup and the U.S. Open Polo Championship, two of the most prestigious tournaments in the United States. And now, in his third year playing in the USA, Paradice and his team, Scone, have won the USPA Gold Cup for the second time.

“I felt really good, it was really nice to win this tournament again. Each of the guys did their own thing. We got Tomas [Panelo] replacing Pelon [Stirling]. It was unfortunate that Pelon couldn’t be here, that was pretty bad, but Tomas did a great job. Poroto, obviously, is phenomenal, and Cody [Ellis]* has done a fantastic job, he has been a great No. 4 player and he works really hard. The team has been really good and we also had Adolfo there for us too."

Regarding the final against Pilot, Paradice considers it one of the hardest games he has played, both because of their opponent and also because of the hot weather. “It was a really hard match. After the first chukker, it was so hot, but Poroto continued saying to me 'bring it up, bring it up' and it was really tough. We had to keep on going the whole time, it was probably one of the hardest games we played, it has also been the hottest; it was good though.”

Paradice's journey in polo started around 15 years ago, when he began playing at Ellerston Polo in his home country, Australia. The patron of Ellerston, James Packer, is no longer playing, but Paradice is grateful to him for giving him the opportunity to start playing. According to Paradice, polo gives him an escape to get away from the stress of his job and be totally focused on the game.

Paradice loves polo in the United States, especially the high-goal season, because of its intensity and professionalism. In 2021, Paradice played in the United States for the first time and had no idea that he was going to achieve such an impressive record.

Paradice's record goes beyond Australia and the United States, however, as it also includes winning the Queen's Cup in England in 2019 with Nicolas Pieres, and the 2022 Jockey Club Open in Argentina alongside Poroto Cambiaso and Camilo and Barto Castagnola.

For Paradice, playing with Poroto and Adolfo Cambiaso has been great. He thinks that there is a real soul and culture around their teams, as the Cambiaso’s are real professionals, having built a great organization this way. For him, these past years have been a fantastic experience.

David Paradice is a true inspiration for all polo players who believe in hard work, dedication and professionalism. His achievements in the world of polo are a testament to his love for the sport and his unwavering determination to succeed.

*Cody Ellis is Team USPA alumnus. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo.

All photos courtesy of ©David Lominska.