David, what does it mean for you to be able to play one more year with Adolfo and Poroto?
I have had a lot of very unique experiences with the Cambiaso’s . What makes them so unique and relatable to what I see in business is that things are done properly. In other words they are totally focused and prepared for doing the best they can do. My view is that it is not worth doing if you don’t do it properly. More importantly they are a great family with Maria and Adolfo bringing up the children with the right principles and morals. They don’t take short cuts, treat others well with respect, decency and are genuine and polite.
What does the Polo mean in your life?
I have always liked to be fit and to be involved in team sport. At my age, it is very difficult to play team sport at a high level with great sportsmen except in polo. The drivers in business success in a corporate team are the same drivers that make a team successful in sport. I enjoy being part of those team dynamics. I try to contribute as much as I can so to keep up with all the young people. I am in the gym 90mins per day 5days per week. So polo allows me to be part of a team playing at the highest level in the world and makes me fit. Because we are playing polo at the highest level, I play with top level sportsmen and I love to see how they are successful while at the same time have a good balance in life.
You have played all over the world, how would you define what it is like to participate in the Argentine polo season?
Argentina is the Mecca of world polo. The Argentinians are fantastic horsemen and great sportsmen so to see them do their thing up close is very unique. Most importantly, they are a great bunch of people who are fun to be with. They make me laugh and I have had some of my happiest times with them.
What are your next plans in the world of Polo?
In the short term I will be playing more so that I can focus on my family and work in Australia. I have been playing globally as it fitted in well with the desire to build the business globally. Polo allowed me the time to work overseas and play while I was working. However I will still plan to play overseas especially in Argentina when time and work permits. Polo provides a lot of global experiences.
Finally, how do you see the growth of the polo in Australia and what does Scone mean to you?
They are many new patrons and young players entering the sport in Australia, so I am very confident that polo in Australia has a rosy future. I do feel that people who enjoy sport are beginning to see that with polo, age within reason does not restrict access to team sports. Further we are continuing to build depth in our horses which is the basis of a good team.
Scone will always be near to my heart as I grew up there, have family there and Ellerston is there. Without Ellerston and so many others the Scone International polo team would not have had the experiences it has had.