Tariq Albwardy (0), Matias Machado (+4), Alejo Taranco (+6) and Santiago Laborde (+5) of team Desert Palm are the winners of the 14th edition of the HH President of UAE Polo Cup. In the final the foursome defeated team Bin Drai in overtime by 7-6. As an exclusive polo media partner and new media partner of the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, POLO+10 reports from one of the most renowned and prestigious clubs in the region.
Both teams were highly motivated and played with lot of passion and total commitment. 5-goaler Santiago Laborde of team Desert Palm shone throughout the match and scored four out of seven goals. Raul Laplacette was the only goal scorer of team Bin Drai – the 6-goaler scored all six goals.
From the start the final was a highly competitive and even match. At the end of the first chukka it was a 1-1-draw. In the second chukka Desert Palm took the lead and increased this lead over Bin Drai in the third chukka to a two-goal margin. But thanks to Raul Laplacette, who scored two more goals for Bin Drai, the teams reached a draw again, 3-3. In the fourth chukka Raul Laplacette also scored two times and gave his team Bin Drai the lead (5-4) for the first time during the match. Another goal during the fifth and final chukka put victory within Bin Drai’s reach. But Desert Palm did not surrender without a fight, took a chance and by the sound of the chukka bell the match ended in a tie, 6-6. This meant overtime and the final match was decided in an extra chukka. It was Alejo Taranco (+6) who scored the deciding goal and earned victory for his team Desert Palm at the 2014 HH President of UAE Polo Cup.
Earlier this day teams Abu Dhabi and UAE encountered each other in the match for third place. Abu Dhabi took the lead early during the match and dominated at first. But the UAE Polo team were close on their heels and near the end of the second chukka they tied it up, 2-2. At the beginning of the third chukka UAE for the first time took the lead (5-4), but at the end of the chukka both teams reach a draw once more (6-6). In the fourth and final chukka it was team Abu Dhabi taking the lead, 8-6. UAE got one back, but in the end they had to acknowledge defeat and lost by 7-8. Abu Dhabi was placed third, UAE had to contend themselves with the unpopular fourth place.
Mr. Ahmed Ali Al Nuaimi, Managing Director of the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club: “The 14th HH President of UAE Polo Cup was a hugely successful tournament that witnessed not just a fine display of polo, but also an enthusiastic participation of the spectators. All the spectators particularly enjoyed the final day as players were faithfully committed to displaying sportsmanship and fair competition that’s befitting of such a prestigious tournament.”
H.E Saeed bin Hofan, Vice President of the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club also expressed his immense pleasure at the successful outcome of the tournament.
The entertaining family activities, which were hosted on the side-lines of the two matches on the final day, included shows supported by Sheikh Mohammed Sports and Physical Fitness Programme, Dubai Police dog show, a performance by the Abu Dhabi Police Band, military sky dive show and a show by the UAE National Aerobatic Team – Al Fursan. The children’s entertainment playground offered a variety of thrilling activities for the young ones including a clown, balloon twister, face painting, adventure games and ponies and camels rides.
The HH President of UAE Polo Cup is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the region. The event is being organised by the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club (GRPC) and is hosted under the patronage of HH Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the GRPC. The event is presented by Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) and the Official Partner is Al Basti Equiworld. A total of eight teams with a team handicap of 16-goals competed against each other at the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, located at the gates of Abu Dhabi.
The results:
Tuesday, January 14th, 2014
|
UAE Polo |
: |
Al Habtoor Polo |
5 |
: |
6 |
|
Bin Drai Polo |
: |
Ghantoot Al Basti Polo |
6 |
: |
5 |
Wednesday, January 15th, 2014
|
Abu Dhabi Polo |
: |
Desert Palm Polo |
8 |
: |
4 |
|
Zedan Polo |
: |
ADCB Polo from Ghantoot |
6 |
: |
9 |
Friday, January 17th, 2014
|
UAE Polo |
: |
Ghantoot Al Basti Polo |
11 |
: |
5 |
|
Bin Drai Polo |
: |
Al Habtoor Polo |
8 |
: |
5 |
Saturday, January 18th, 2014
|
Zedan Polo |
: |
Desert Palm Polo |
5 |
: |
9 |
|
Abu Dhabi Polo |
: |
ADCB Polo from Ghantoot |
9 |
: |
8 |
Sunday, January 19th, 2014
|
Bin Drai Polo |
: |
UAE Polo |
8 |
: |
9 |
|
Ghantoot Al Basti Polo |
: |
Al Habtoor Polo |
8 |
: |
7 |
Monday, January 20th, 2014
|
Desert Palm Polo |
: |
ADCB Polo from Ghantoot |
5 |
: |
4 |
|
Abu Dhabi Polo |
: |
Zedan Polo |
5 |
: |
7 |
Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014
|
Abu Dhabi Polo |
: |
Bin Drai Polo |
6 |
: |
9 |
|
UAE Polo |
: |
Desert Palm Polo |
5 |
: |
8 |
Friday, January 24th, 2014
|
Abu Dhabi Polo |
: |
UAE Polo |
8 |
: |
7 |
|
Bin Drai Polo |
: |
Desert Palm Polo |
6 |
: |
7 |
The teams:
Group A
Bin Drai Polo (+16)
Mohammed Bin Drai (0)
Tomas Iriarte (+4)
Manuel Llorente (+6)
Raul Laplacette (+6)
Ghantoot Al Basti Polo (+16)
Nasser Al Shamsi (+1)
Diego Cossio (+4)
Juan Zavaleta (+7)
Oscar Colombres (+4)
UAE Polo (+16)
HH Shaikha Maitha (0)
Tomas Gagliardi (+2)
Ollie Cudmore (+5)
Lucas Monteverde (+9)
Al Habtoor Polo (+16)
Habtoor Al Habtoor (0)
Santiago Romero (+3)
Francisco Elizalde (+7)
Guillemo Cuitino (+6)
Group B
Abu Dhabi Polo (+16)
Faris Al Yabhouni (0)
Victorio Monteverde (+3)
Juan Storni (+7)
Alfredo Cappella (+6)
Desert Palm Polo (+15)
Tariq Albwardy (0)
Matias Machado (+4)
Santiago Laborde (+5)
Alejo Taranco (+6)
Zedan Polo (+16)
Amr Zedan (0)
Luis Gagliardi (+2)
Felipe Viana (+4)
Pelon Stirling (+10)
ADCB Team from Ghantoot (+16)
Ali Al Merri (0)
Juan Zubiaurre (+4)
Facundo Sola (+8) / Juan Zavalita
Pelayo Berazadi (+4)
For more information:
www.presidentpolocup.ae
www.facebook.com/GhantootPolo
twitter.com/GhantootPolo
Gallery:
[nggallery id=282]
