Global, Sport-Inspired Brand to Again Serve as Official Apparel Partner for FIP’s Top Events
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., (August 15, 2023) – USPA Global Licensing Inc. (USPAGL) has announced that U.S. Polo Assn., the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), has extended its global partnership with the Federation of International Polo (FIP) through 2026. This extension marks a continued commitment to the global promotion of the sport of polo from the authentic, sport-inspired brand.
True to the heritage of the brand, U.S. Polo Assn. is proud to support polo around the world. FIP is the international federation representing the sport of polo, officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This strategic partnership between FIP and U.S. Polo Assn. represents the strong alliance that has thrived since the partnership’s inception in 2015, and means that the global, sport-inspired brand will continue to be the Official Apparel Partner for FIP’s top events.
In 2022, the shared vision of FIP, the USPA, and U.S. Polo Assn. culminated in the historic XII Federation of International Polo (FIP) World Polo Championship held at the USPA National Polo Center (NPC) – Wellington. The 2022 FIP tournament was only the second time in history the competition was held in the United States and was its first time being broadcast on ESPN to millions of households around the world.
As the Official Apparel Partner for FIP events, U.S. Polo Assn. will continue to support the sport‘s leading events, including the FIP World Polo Championship, FIP European Polo Championship, FIP Ladies World Polo Championship, and FIP Ladies European Polo Championship. The brand will also continue to supply custom performance jerseys for all teams, alongside other essential apparel items such as hats and shirts, for players and officials to elevate the experience both on and off the field.
This partnership will also encompass support for the highly anticipated Ambassador Cups, set to take place this year in Brazil and Italy; the FIP Arena Polo World Championship; as well as other international polo events, such as potential Olympic Exhibition Games.
„We‘re looking forward to continuing our strategic relationship with FIP over the next four years,“ said J. Michael Prince, President & CEO of USPAGL, the company that manages and oversees the U.S. Polo Assn. brand. „This meaningful partnership underscores our continued efforts to help grow the sport of polo around the world and aligns with our strategy as a brand to
authentically connect with our global markets as we continue to execute our aggressive international growth strategies.”
“We are thrilled by this renewed partnership with U.S. Polo Assn. and their continued support of the sport of polo, which goes far beyond supplying jerseys and gear for our players,” said Piero Dillier Chairman of FIP. “With the support of U.S. Polo Assn., we are now able to reach so many new polo fans globally through ESPN. This is a dream come true for us, and we are excited to use this platform to help broaden interest, access, and exposure to polo around the world.”
SINGAPORE, ASIA: On the 12th of August, Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, Co-Founding Patron of Sentebale returned to Singapore Polo Club to play in the 2023 Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup. The annual fundraising event has raised over £11milliion to date for Sentebale’s work supporting children and young people in southern Africa.
The Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup was previously hosted by the Singapore Polo Club in 2017. Excited crowds cheered on the Royal Salute Sentebale Team, captained by Malcolm Borwick as they took on the Singapore Polo Club Team, captained by Sentebale Ambassador and long-time friend Nacho Figueras in a fast-paced game. This year’s event saw Figueras, in opposition to The Duke’s team, one of the few occasions in the tournaments history when the pair have played on opposing sides. Both rose to the challenge, each scoring impressive goals but ultimately the teams were evenly matched with the final score levelling at 7-7 with honours shared.
Around 260 guests, including former All Blacks rugby player and ISPS Handa Ambassador Dan Carter, attended the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup followed by dinner at the InterContinental Singapore.
Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, Co-Founding Patron of Sentebale said, “Sentebale has remained a pillar of support in communities across southern Africa for almost two decades, ensuring future generations are well equipped to address the many challenges facing our world. Adaptability and nimbleness have been a defining factor in our work since Prince Seeiso and I founded the charity 17 years ago. Our work has remained rooted in our mission, and in honour of our late mothers, we wish to ensure all children and young people in southern Africa are empowered, healthy and able to pursue their ambitions and dreams.”
Nacho Figueras, Sentebale’s Ambassador said, “Although Prince Harry and I played on opposing teams this year, we are always united in our support for Sentebale and the life-changing work they do for young people in southern Africa. It’s a highlight every year to come together for this incredible charity, and I’m grateful to everyone who contributes to their work.”
Dr Haruhisa Handa, Founder of International Sports Promotion Society said, “ISPS believes sport has the power to inspire, break down barriers, and change lives and communities for the better. This ethos was exemplified today at the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup. Marrying the power of sport and the vital philanthropic work Sentebale undertakes in Lesotho and Botswana to eradicate HIV and AIDS stigma, ISPS is a proud and honoured partner of this platform. Our genuine thanks to the Sentebale team for their enduring commitment, and to Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, without whose vision the positive impact on so many lives would not have been realised.”
The funds raised from this year’s Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup are essential to ensuring the progress made in recent years is maintained.
Sentebale’s holistic package of support for vulnerable children and young people focusses on four key areas:
Sentebale’s holistic package of support for vulnerable children and young people focusses on four key areas:
- Strengthening the social and emotional wellbeing of those living with or affected by HIV.
- Working with communities to provide young people with access to health and social services.
- Driving youth advocacy to improve health, education, and social protection.
- Building individuals skills and livelihoods so they are more resilient, self-confident and empowered members of their communities.
This layered approach is supporting positive health outcomes, improving access to education and services, and is nurturing children and young people to thrive.
Sentebale is enormously grateful to all the players and partners for their support in making this year’s event possible including, ISPS Handa, Royal Salute Singapore Polo Club, IHG Hotels & Resorts, U.S. Polo Assn and The Cox Family of Oklahoma.
For more information about Sentebale’s work please go to www.sentebale.org.
The first title awarded in the 2023 Barrière Deauville Polo Cup: The Ladies Polo Cup — Diane Barrière. It was a particularly challenging tournament this year with five teams, each with at least one player participating in the flagship women’s polo tournament: the Argentine Open. It is with the two-time champion of this Open, Lía Salvo, that Augustinus Bader signs a double in Deauville after their premier victory last year. But how tough it was!
It is the third Deauville title for Lía Salvo, who won it for the first time in 2018. To reach the final, she had to defeat two of her teammates from her Argentinian team, El Overo: Milly Hine in the quarterfinals and Clarita Casino yesterday. For this afternoon’s sublime final, Lía had to contest the young Milagros Sanchez (22 years old), finalist last year of this same Argentine Open with La Irenita.
With players of this caliber, one could only expect a spectacular final, one that marks the continuous progress of women’s polo: the spectators were not disappointed! After a tense start to the match, it took until the middle of the second half to see Anais Rezkallah open the scoring. Then, in the third chukker, the players went shot for shot: the intensity of the match amplified! The American captain Megan Manubay gave Augustinus Bader a 2-3 lead late in the third chukker. After Paloma Lauro’s leveling of the score, we were heading towards an overtime period when, 17 seconds from the final bell, Lía Salvo, true to form, delivered the fatal blow.
“It was a very tough final, but I like this kind of match because it shows the level of the women’s here in Deauville is getting better every year. You could see it today with a very close and tough final where no one gave in. Today was a great show of teamwork: everyone scored their goal, Anais was voted best player in the final, and she helped me a lot. The other team was amazing, they were the same: four young players who played really, really well and hung on until the end. I knew it was going to be tough,” said Salvo.
For the Argentine champion, winning in Deauville is always close to her heart. :“I love coming here, it is my favorite destination. My father won the Coupe d’Or in 1974. For me, playing in Deauville is a tradition and it reminds me of him. I always have a lot of people I love here in Deauville.”
After a tournament in England, Lía Salvo will return to France to play two tournaments in Chantilly, notably the French Open, with the same Agustinus Baderteam before flying to her country and preparing for the biggest date of the year—the Argentine Open with a brand-new team.
The Barrière Deauville Polo cup continues with the qualifying matches of the Coupe d‘Or Lucien & Marta Barrière (final on the 27th). Already three games are on the books, and what games they were, full of intensity and suspense. The first to games were decided in extra chukker on golden goals from Bautista Bayugar (8-goaler, Los Dragones Rouge) and Juan-Gris Zavaleta (7-goaler, Barrière), while yesterday’s match saw the “firework” signed Guillermo Terrera (8-goaler Eternal J) who scored 6 of his team‘s 7 goals. All players who also shine in their flagship tournament… the Argentine Open! Of course…
It is certainly the best the sport has to offer at the Barrière Deauville Polo Cup 2023… as it has been for Coupe d’Or’s 73-year history.
Finale Ladies Polo Cup – Diane Barrière
Augustinus Bader (LUX): Paloma Lauro (2, 1 goal), Aurelie Molitor (1, 1 goal), Anais Rezkallah (2, 1 goal) et Lía Salvo (9, 1 goal)
Bar du Soleil (USA) : Megan Manubay (0, 2 goals), Leah Kawamoto (2), Polina Nazarova (4), Milagros Sanchez (7, 1 goal)
MVP: Anais Rezkallah
Progression Augustinus Bader: 0-0 / 0-1 / 2-3 / 4-3
PRACTICAL INFORMATION :
GOLDEN CUP
August 7 to 27 – 14/16 Goals – final Sunday August 27 at 5:30 pm
COUPE DE BRONZE
August 14 to 27 – 6/8 Goals – final Sunday August 27 at 3:30 pm
Deauville—Hippodrome de la Touques, access from boulevard Mauger. Attention, visit the website to watch the times of passage on the days of the matches. Free parking. Free entry on weekdays, €10 on weekends and €20 on August 27 (Finals Or and Bronze).
Continue the fun:
Polo Afters parties in the village: small Afters on Tuesdays with aperitifs until 10:00 p.m. and large Afters on Friday evening with DJs until midnight!
Photos by R&B Presse/Pascal Renauldon
Polo is a team sport. Wearing the colors of Gstaad, Sébastien Le Page and his Argentinian accomplices provide clear proof. On Sunday afternoon, they masterfully executed their game on the unique polo field at Saanen airport, winning the Hublot Polo Gold Cup for the second consecutive year.
Martincito Aguerre‘s genius was not enough today. Indeed, Raul Laplacette‘s team play proved unbeatable. Despite scoring eleven goals once again (Team Gstaad‘s daily rate since last Thursday), it was the fierce defense of the defending champions that made the difference. The Hublot players could never penetrate their opponents‘ defensive wall. When they did, Raul Laplacette calmly stole the ball from the audacious attacker, freeing up space for the men from Gstaad to advance and score on the other end. Martin Aguerre Jr.‘s only option was to try his luck from a great distance. He succeeded twice and scored his other three goals from penalties. Five goals were all the team could muster today.
Earning their second title in two years, the polo field at Saanen airport has become the domain of Raul Laplacette, the most valuable player of the final and the tournament‘s top scorer with 17 goals. „On this kind of field, you have to keep moving forward with the ball, attacking relentlessly,“ said Laplacette. „Thanks to our organization—good players and fast horses—we were able to play excellent polo.“
The Swiss organization was set up at Polo Park Zurich by team captain Sébastien Le Page. „This second victory is all the more pleasing because it‘s practically the same team as last year, proving that our organization is working exceptionally well,“ Le Page celebrated. „I‘m both exhausted and thrilled, and I‘m looking forward to savoring this victory with some champagne, something I‘ve abstained from for the past two weeks.“ The French captain also praised his star player, „Raul is incredible; he controls the game so effectively that it seems like he‘s doing nothing when, in fact, he‘s everywhere and scoring an incredible number of goals. I believe he‘s one of the best players on the planet.“ On the Gstaad field, he could easily be a 10-goaler!
The match for third place was much tighter, with Kielder Agro Group securing their first win of the tournament thanks to two explosive opening chukkers: 5-0. They maintained this lead by fighting hard until the end, allowing only one goal in the last two periods while Gstaad Palace scored five. The final score was 6-5.
This 26th edition of the Hublot Polo Gold Cup was unanimously praised this year for its flawless and relaxed organization, technically excellent field, friendly reception, and above all, the attention given to the well-being of the horses. They were well-cared-for under new refereeing rules and, despite the weather, appeared to be in particularly good condition and eager to play.
Teams and progressions :
THIRD PLACE
Team GSTAAD: Sébastien Le Page (hcp 0), Facundo Kelly (hcp 4, 2 goals), Francisco Fucci (hcp 4, 2 goals), Raul Laplacette (hcp 6, 7 goals)
Team HUBLOT: Jürgen Schröder (hcp 0), Juan Correa (hcp 3), Matias Gonzalez (hcp 4), Martin Aguerre Jr. (hcp 7, 5 goals)
Progression GSTAAD: 3/1 – 6/2 – 7/3 – 11/5
FINAL
Team KIELDER AGRO GROUP: Cedric Schweri (hcp 0), Joao Novaes (hcp 5, 4 goals), Tomi Astelarra (hcp 3), Francisco Menendez (hcp 6, 2 goals)
Team GSTAAD PALACE: Peter Cromm (hcp 0), Pedro Fernandez Llorente (hcp 5, 2 goals), Teo von Neufforge (hcp 5), Segundo Condesse (hcp 4, 3 goals)
Progression KIELDER: 4/0 – 5/0 – 5/2 – 6/5
MVP: Raul Laplacette
BPP: Tintin, 8-year-old gelding, dark bay born in Argentina (by Cuarteto – a son of the famous Cuartetera – and Pollilla), played by Raul Laplacette.
Photos by Kathrin Gralla / Der Rote Drache and R&B Presse / P.Renauldon
It was a dream international day for England polo, with victories in both matches in the glorious surroundings of Guards Polo Club, Windsor.
The day opened with a 15-goal match between Young England and the Commonwealth for The Whitbread Trophy. Louis Hine (5) led Will Millard (2), Luke Wiles (4) and Will Harper (4) to a decisive victory over the opposing team of captain Hissam Ali Hyder (4) for Pakistan, Adebayo Karim (2) for Nigeria, Abby Pathak (4) for India, and Jake Daniels (5) for Australia.
By the second chukka, the Young England team had taken control of the play, and kept up a relentless pace that would prove too much for the Commonwealth side. Excellent coaching from Nacho Gonzalez saw the home team continue to draw away in the second half, and despite some fantastic rallying play from the Commonwealth in the final chukka, Hine and his team could not be caught, leaving the final score a resounding 11-4.
The wave of success continued into the afternoon, with the Guards crowds treated to a well-spirited clash between some of the world’s best players in the fight for the King’s Coronation Cup. The Commonwealth were keen to extend the 2-1 record against England in this match, while England captain Tommy Beresford left no doubt that his team were determined to even the score.
The Commonwealth team, down by 1 on the handicap, started with a goal on the board. Debutant Garvy Beh (5) for Malaysia, Chris MacKenzie (6) for South Africa, and JP Clarkin (6) for New Zealand were led by Canadian captain Fred Mannix (7). The home side fielded a 25-goal team of Max Charlton (6), Ollie Cudmore (6), and James Beim (6), captained by Tommy Beresford (7).
Beresford opened the card with a well-lofted penalty to equalise, before winning a big ride-off to swing the board into England’s favour. Another confident penalty followed, but Chris MacKenzie prevented a clean sweep by hammering home a goal for the Commonwealth in the final 30 seconds.
The second chukka opened with some missed early chances for the Commonwealth, while England’s Ollie Cudmore and Max Charlton used huge hits to up the England score, finding the ever-consistent James Beim ready and waiting on the receiving end to see the goals home. The Commonwealth team, coached by John Horswell, found their momentum in the third chukka, with a goal from captain Mannix keeping Commonwealth hopes high heading into half time.
The second half started with an action-packed chukka that saw five goals added to the board, but it was the fifth chukka that demonstrated exactly why England have enjoyed a fantastic international season, with brilliant teamwork between the home side players proving the key. Beresford converted a penalty once again before Cudmore, fighting a ride-off from Mannix, found Beim at the goal to draw five goals ahead. Mannix kept his team in the hunt with a high, smooth penalty hit to head into the final chukka 11-7.
The Beim-Cudmore alliance swept through the field once again the start the final chukka, with Beim scoring through an open goal thanks to Cudmore’s strong riding seeing off the competition. Mannix scored again to bring the score to 12-8, but the England team proved too strong for the Commonwealth horsepower, and despite fighting all the way to the end, the visiting team could not see off the home side, who had kept their promise of keeping the King’s Coronation Cup on English soil. The team were presented with the coveted trophy by The Right Honourable Patricia Scotland KC, Baroness Scotland of Asthal, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, in an evening ceremony supported by family, friends, and spectators to finish a spectacular day.
It was Chris Mackenzie who took home the Most Valuable Player, having played a brilliant attacking game. The Best Playing ROR also went home with Mackenzie, awarded to his own Biento (racing name Badalona Breeze), who was formerly trained by Mick Appleby.
Best Playing Pony was awarded to Tommy Beresford’s own Teddy, with his groom Raul Mora picking up the cash prize. Tommy’s mother Teresa Beresford was on hand to present the Donoso Trophy, traditionally awarded to the captain of the opposing team, to Fred Mannix in memory of her late brother Gabriel Donoso, whose name appears twice on the Coronation Cup after wins in 1998 and 2004.
The sun was shining and the party continued with a performance from the Rick Parfitt Jnr Band, as the mood was high after two brilliant matches in the glorious Guards Polo Club grounds. An historic Coronation Cup year that left England’s hopes high for the future.
Images by The Art Of Polo/Hurlingham Polo Association
The Duke will travel to Asia in August for the annual Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup and to attend the ISPS Sports Values Summit-Special Edition.
LONDON, UK, Monday 31st July, 2023: Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, Co-Founding Patron of Sentebale, will play in the 2023 Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup at Singapore Polo Club on the 12th of August. Since 2010, the annual Polo Cup has raised over £11 million to support Sentebale’s work with children and young people affected by poverty, inequality and HIV/AIDS in southern Africa.
Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, Co-Founding Patron of Sentebale said, “The annual Polo Cup is essential to Sentebale’s vital work ensuring children and young people are healthy, resilient, and able to thrive. The funds raised this year will support our Clubs and Camps programme, which provides intensive psychosocial support to young people living with HIV. In a time where being HIV positive is no longer a death sentence, we are empowering young people to know their status, stay healthy, and eliminate the stigma so that they can break the cycle.
We are delighted to return to the renowned Singapore Polo Club in August, and are once again enormously grateful for the polo community and our sponsors, in particular ISPS Handa, for their ongoing commitment to Lesotho and Botswana’s youth.”
The Duke will play on the Royal Salute Sentebale Team, against the Singapore Polo Club Team captained by the charity’s ambassador and long-time friend, Nacho Figueras.
Prior to travelling to Singapore, both will participate in a summit on the power of sport, community and philanthropy at the ISPS Sports Values Summit-Special Edition in Tokyo, Japan on the 9th of August. They will be joined by ISPS Handa Founder Dr. Handa, former New Zealand All Blacks and ISPS Handa Ambassador Dan Carter, Sentebale Chair Sophie Chandauka MBE, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of South Africa’s Stellenbosch University Professor Wim de Villiers, and Royal Australian Navy Veteran and Invictus Games Gold Medallist Steve James.
Dr Haruhisa Handa, Founder of International Sports Promotion Society said, “ISPS Handa are delighted to be partnering with Sentebale this August on the special edition of ISPS Sports Values Summit in Tokyo and the annual Polo Cup in Singapore. Our respective organisations share a mutual responsibility to empower and aid those most in need and believe we can use the power of sport to do so.”
Support for Sentebale makes possible its core areas of work, including strengthening the social and emotional wellbeing of those living with or affected by HIV; working with communities to provide young people with access to health and social services; and driving youth advocacy to improve health, education, and social protection; and building individuals’ skills and livelihoods so they are more resilient, self-confident and empowered members of their communities.
For more information about Sentebale’s work please go to our website www.sentebale.org or read our 2022 Annual Report & Accounts.
Nicole J. Jenni Braun is a passionate gemstone expert, jewelry designer and trained gemologist G.G. from the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) in New York. Her company Braun & Stone in Zug stands for individual jewelry creations and expert craftsmanship and helps in the search and evaluation of rare and high quality gemstones and pearls.
Left: Nicole J. Jenni Braun – here in her second home and her “power place” Costa Rica – worked as a successful lawyer before she followed her passion for gemstones and jewelry and founded Braun & Stone. Right: The turtle is the key visual of Braun & Stone. Inspired by the beach where Nicole J. Jenni Braun and her family live in Costa Rica, the turtle symbolizes for Braun & Stone the elemental force of nature, change and renewal, the closeness of life and death.
Ms. Braun, you are a lawyer admitted to the bar and have worked successfully in the financial sector. How did you get from law to jewelry?
Actually, it was the other way around. The passion for precious stones and beautiful jewelry has accompanied me since my earliest youth. Already at the age of about 10 years I made jewelry from different coloured foils and exhibited it on aubergine coloured velvet from my grandmother. My family was my “clientele”.
the joy of jewelry and stones, but also the fun of “trading” has fascinated you ever since?
Yes, in any case it is both! On my numerous journeys – I was already in Asia alone at the age of 17 – I have always bought gemstones or pieces of jewelry. I found pleasure in negotiating with people, selecting beautiful stone qualities and imagining what I could create from them.
So you have also taken risks in the search for the best pieces?
My first expensive stone was an over 3 ct. large emerald, which I bought when I was just under 20 years old. I love the lush green and the “jardin”, as they call the inside of the stone. Ten years later – I had just passed my bar exam – I bought particularly beautiful pearls on a trip to Asia. When I had them appraised at home, it turned out that I had selected exceptionally beautiful pieces at a very good price.
Which confirmed your penchant for stones and spurred your creativity. Despite that, you stuck to the law for now?
For the next 10 years I worked successfully in the financial sector in Zurich. In a way, however, I lacked the aesthetic and creativity in my daily work. I missed immediate feedback from customers in the sense that I could experience their satisfaction in a tangible way when they held a product in their hands that they liked.
Today you can! how did it come about?
While still working in the world of finance, in 2006 I started studying gemmology at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the world-renowned gem valuation company, in New York. I spent almost all my holidays in Manhattan and completed many subjects via distance learning under the supervision of a Bernese notary public. In 2010, I was the only non-precious gemstone student to graduate at the first attempt and was the second best of the year in the diamond certification. At that time I was already mother of a three-month-old son. Two years later, when my daughter was also born, I decided to leave the financial world for good to start my own business in gemstone trading and jewelry design.
Was it difficult for you to gain a foothold in that business?
The competition in the jewelry world is fierce. The feeling that nobody was waiting for me and my ideas came up every now and then. But always my conviction to do the right thing won out. I did not want to have to say in the future that I had not lived my dreams. The very positive feedback from my customers also ultimately served as motivation to go further and further.
You have chosen a small turtle as the key visual for your company. What does it symbolise for you?
The turtle is inspired by the beach in the immediate vicinity of which we live in our second home and “my power place” Costa Rica. For me it symbolizes the elemental force of nature, change and renewal, the closeness of life and death. For generations, hundreds of thousands of these primeval animals have been coming to this beach according to a rhythm dictated by the moon and the seasons, laying their eggs, from which a few weeks later new life struggles its way through the inhospitable dark sand, only to partly die again just minutes later. This spectacle of nature puts many things from daily life back into their proper position. We are all here only for a certain time and should leave as many positive traces as possible. I would like to make the customers happy with my creations. So I am always excited at the moment when the packaging is opened and the piece of jewelry is looked at. If I see the enthusiasm in the eyes of the customer, then everything is fine.
What would you say distinguishes your collection?
It’s clear that I embody a certain style. My pieces of jewelry, whether purchased or designed and produced by myself, are often relatively simple but with a certain refinement. They are always characterized by the high quality and/or rarity of the materials used as well as by the special color-material combination. The pieces of jewelry must always be wearable, they should not only wait in the safe for their rare big appearances. My collection also includes design classics from times gone by. My favourite Art Deco jewelry pieces – I wear my platinum ring with an old-cut diamond from this period almost every day – which I also find at international trade fairs, can be combined in a very modern way. Then there are the gemstones and pearls that continue to magically attract me at trade fairs or when I visit a dealer! Some of them are real rarities due to their quality and individuality.
So you collect pieces that you include in your collection, but also create and produce individual jewelry?
Yes, this gives me the opportunity to really respond to the wishes of my customers. Often I get inspiration for colour combinations or even design in nature. It’s amazing what’s practically ready for collection right in front of my eyes.
What do you pay particular attention to during production of Your jewelry?
I always give guarantees for my gemstones and jewelry, and I also select my suppliers accordingly: my long-standing business relationships with international stone and jewelry dealers, who all supply long-established, renowned jewelry houses, are very valuable to me. These partners are also available to me at any time for extensive selections or exhibitions.
For the sale of your beautiful jewelry you have chosen your own special way..
I do not run a traditional sales outlet with security personnel for my jewelry in an expensive city location. Instead, I organize culinary appealing jewelry cocktails at the different locations, and then arrange personal appointments with customers. Over the years, this approach has proven to be ideal, as the trend is increasingly moving in the direction of avoiding expensive business locations in favour of competitive prices, but still being close to the customer. I can thus guarantee very attractive conditions even for jewelry creations that are manufactured entirely in Switzerland.
Gallery: © Braun & Stone
Braun & Stone’s own creations made of high-quali-ty gemstones as well as unique, often antique pieces of jewelry can be found in the Braun & Stone collection.
The personal contact with the people who adorn themselves with the trouvailles and creations to emphasize their personality is very important to Nicole J. Jenni Braun. With her work she creates positive emotions, which are a source of strength for her.
“With the help of sketches and models, we develop a project together within the set budget or search for the right piece
of jewelry until I feel the true enthusiasm of the customer.”
On 26 May 1950, the first 356 was handed over to a customer
An unprecedented success story started seven decades ago on 26 May 1950 when the first new Porsche car was collected from the factory in Zuffenhausen by its new owner. To this day, customers come as close as is practically possible to the brand’s roots when they pick up their new car. In the anniversary year, the first Taycan was also collected by a customer from the parent plant in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen.
The history of factory collection all began outside on a field in view of Plant 1. This is where Ottomar Domnick laid the foundation for this tradition when he collected his sports car on 26 May 1950: a Porsche 356 in Fish Silver with the commission number 5001. Being the first customer in Germany was a dream come true for this specialist in neurology and psychiatry. Ottomar Domnick was 43 years old when he collected his Porsche – incidentally the same age as Florian Böhme who was handed the first electric sports car in Zuffenhausen on 21 February. He collected his Taycan on the day of his 43th birthday.
Before the celebratory handover, Ottomar Domnick took the passenger seat in his Porsche 356 next to Herbert Linge, who had invited him to take a final test run. Herbert Linge started his training at Porsche KG in April 1943 and was one of the first mechanics to be employed after Porsche returned from Gmünd in Austria at the end of 1949. “I was 14 years old when I started work at the first Porsche training workshop. In those days, we were six mechanics and two technical draftsmen. Ferdinand Porsche often walked past our workshop with important guests in tow. He would always stop to say hello while keeping his guests briefly waiting. That’s something I’ll never forget,” says Herbert Linge, who clearly remembers every car collection at the factory. “When Ottomar Domnick collected his Porsche 356, he really celebrated the occasion. But he had been coming to the factory every day anyway to see how far on we were with the work. Even Ferry Porsche briefly dropped in when the doctor was presented with his sports car.”
Even today, factory collection at the Porsche headquarters is a particularly special experience for customers. “The most exciting aspect of this first encounter is that the customer has never actually seen the car before,” explains Tobias Donnevert, Head of Factory Collection and Sales Operations Personalisation. “The customer has configured the car of his choice in the Porsche Centre or together with the customer service of the Porsche Exclusive Manufacture department and has only seen the colour combinations on photos or tiles. So when he collects his personal Porsche, he is seeing it for the very first time. This is a very special moment, reserved exclusively for the customer at the beginning of the handover.”
At the plant in Zuffenhausen, Tobias Donnevert and his team welcome around 20 customers every day who come to collect their new cars. In 2019, there was a total of 2,500 customers and almost 3,000 in Leipzig. Before collecting their car, customers are also invited to take a tour of the factory and see, among other things, how the Porsche 911 is manufactured in Zuffenhausen. A visit to the Porsche Museum is also on the agenda. At Porsche in Leipzig, customers are given an insight into the production of the Macan and Panamera models. Customers can also take a test run in a similar Porsche on the plant’s own FIA race track.
The Domnick Foundation, which manages his estate, still has the original order form from Ottomar Domnick with the commission number 5001. The order was processed by the Volkswagen Hahn dealership as there was no sales distribution in Germany at that point. “Volkswagen” had been crossed out by hand and replaced with “Porsche-Sport” on the order form. To this day, Ottomar Domnick’s Porsche 356 represents the beginning of Porsche in Germany, and it also directly stands for the start of personal factory collections in Zuffenhausen.
You know those stories about Rolls-Royce? They are all true
Upon announcing that Rolls-Royce equips its motor cars with a refrigerator that has two cooling modes: ‘Summer’ and ‘Winter’, thus ensuring occupants’ beverages are delivered at the optimum temperature for the relevant season, the marque has witnessed significant interest in the myths and legends that endear so many to the brand. In this spirit, the time is now to reveal more of the truths that have defined the modern Rolls-Royce success story.
Images: Rolls-Royce
1) At prototype stage the 6.75-litre Rolls-Royce V12 engine had to faultlessly revolve 750million times before being approved for production.
2) The mechanism that retracts the Spirit of Ecstasy to prevent theft and damage is comprised of 24 unseen linkages and bearings.
3) 14 highly qualified Rolls-Royce engineers run a fleet of 16 intensive test vehicles 365 days a year on top of their normal workloads. They do this without complaint.
4) The sensors in a Rolls-Royce are so sensitive they are able to detect if a driver or passenger shifts their body weight from one side to the other and adapt accordingly.
5) The 1300 Watt, 18 speaker Bespoke Audio system in a Rolls-Royce is so exhaustively tuned, interior designers must seek the permission of the audio engineer who created it before making any design changes.
6) Much like the wood veneer inside a Rolls-Royce motor car, the weave of the carbon-fibre that makes up the central spine of Dawn’s ‘Aero Cowling’ tonneau cover is expertly hand book-matched to achieve a perfect chevron pattern.
7) The marque’s lauded Starlight Headliner began as a Bespoke request. A Rolls-Royce client was suffering from Photophobia, an extreme sensitivity to light, and was only able to enjoy reading his daily newspaper under the starlight on his rural ranch. He requested that the marque develop a similar ambience in his Rolls-Royce.
8) The marque’s Bespoke designers increasingly facilitate commissions via mobile messaging services. Indeed, one of the first clients to take delivery of her Cullinan commissioned the motor car entirely via WhatsApp, witnessing the finished product for the first time upon its arrival at her home in the United States of America.
9) Before building the ‘Clean Room’ where the ‘Gallery’ fascia within Rolls-Royce Phantom is assembled, Associates from The Home of Rolls-Royce visited pharmaceutical and microprocessor Clean Rooms in order to fully understand these complex manufacturing laboratories.
10) A Rolls-Royce Wraith ascended the famous hill-climb at the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed in just 52.71 seconds. A feat that could not be bettered by two Maserartis, a Porsche and a Bentley.
11) Sommeliers advise that the optimum serving temperatures of non-vintage Champagne is six degrees centigrade and vintage Champagnes is 11 degrees centigrade. Rolls-Royce equips its motor cars with a refrigerator that operates two cooling modes, chilling to six degrees and 11 degrees respectively.
12) Phantom’s world-leading sound insulating properties were employed by London-based musician Skepta, who was able to record a track in its entirety from the rear seat.
13) 4,500 automated electronic test and commissioning sequences are executed during assembly to ensure the car is crafted to its correct specification. A further 3,500 take-place once the car is finished. A car must pass every test before it is permitted to leave the factory.
14) Over 100 microprocessors decipher 130 million lines of code, ensuring every Rolls-Royce’s suite of cutting edge technological features can be called upon instantly and seamlessly by the driver or passengers.
15) Over 25m of cabling is used to transfer audio data in a Rolls-Royce. Fiber-optic cabling is used to ensure immunity against interference.
16) In 2018, Rolls-Royce added shooting stars to its celebrated Starlight Headliner with eight shooting stars that fire at random across the ceiling panel.
17) To achieve the marque’s mirror-like finish, 5 layers of paint are applied by the only robots you will find at the Home of Rolls-Royce. Any hard-to-reach spots are painted by highly skilled paint experts. In total the process of applying a flawless exterior finish takes seven days and uses over 100lb of paint.
18) Paint quality is checked by the most sophisticated measuring tool in the world: the human eye. If a car does not meet with the approval of the marque’s notoriously fastidious auditors, it will be scrapped.
19) It takes 17 days to hand-craft the leather elements of a Rolls-Royce interior.
20) The most detailed single piece of embroidery to feature in a Rolls-Royce motor car is a Peregrine Falcon, the fastest bird in the world. The photo-realistic design consists of nearly 250,000 stitches and took a team of designers, craftspeople and engineers over one month to develop.
21) The 48 painstakingly crafted wood parts that comprise a Phantom interior take 28 days to produce. A sense of seamless flow of grain is ensured by only using wood from one tree for each motor car.
22) Mark Court is the only man in the able to hand-apply a perfectly straight Phantom coachline. In total it takes 3 hours per side. He uses special brushes made from ox and squirrel hair to ensure the line is precisely level and a uniform 3mm in width. He honed his steady-hand painting pub-signs.
23) Engineers will analyse cavities with an endoscope during monsoon water tests to ensure no moisture ingress. Should a car fail this test it will be scrapped.
24) A Rolls-Royce is so quiet, Sir Henry Royce ordered the fitting of signs at the factory proclaiming ‘Caution, Silent Cars’. Modern health and safety dictates that craftspeople maneuvering cars around the Manufacturing Plant must intermittently sound the horn as a warning.
25) A Rolls-Royce rides on a 16litre air cushion married to dampers and springs that dynamically adjust themselves every five milliseconds to deliver the marque’s sovereign magic carpet ride.
26) When driven in a spirited manner the Rolls-Royce suspension system can draw on two high-torque electrical motors to minimise body-roll.
27) Legend has it that during a particularly spirited birthday celebration, Keith Moon drove his Corniche into a hotel swimming pool. This story is untrue – he was far too fond of his Rolls-Royce to let it come to harm.
28) When creating the Rolls-Royce Architecture, on which all contemporary Rolls-Royces are built, engineers incorporated a resonance chamber into the body’s sill section. This, essentially, transforms the body of the motor car into a subwoofer, delivering exceptional low frequency audio performance.
29) A tailor made heat station brings every Rolls-Royce body to an exact temperature of 25 degrees Celsius to ensure that the rubber seal between the sunroof and the body is perfectly mated, this eliminates any road and wind noises over many years of driving.
30) It takes 60 pairs of hands 400 hours to build a Rolls-Royce – this can more than double depending on the complexity of a Bespoke commission.
31) Rolls-Royce sells cars on five continents. Should a customer live in a country without a dealer, specially trained technicians will fly to their home country to service their car. This small band of experts have been affectionately dubbed ‘Flying Doctors’.
32) The brief given to the marque’s engineers tasked with developing the roof mechanism for the Rolls-Royce Dawn was to create a silent ballet. They emphatically succeeded. While being the largest production convertible roof in the world, it is also the quietest.
33) During the testing period of the Rolls-Royce Dawn, lead Test and Analysis engineers were required to wear shorts so they were able to detect unpleasant airflow around their legs and feet. This testing was conducted in January at three degrees centigrade.
34) At 70 mph, a Rolls-Royce still has 90% of its power left in reserve.
35) A sensor within the Gallery Clean Room continually measures the particle concentration in microns – an alert is sent if particles are detected at a size larger than 0.001 of a micron. The width of a human hair is between 50-100 microns in diameter.
36) Every single component that makes a Phantom Gallery is painstakingly cleaned by hand inside a particle proof cleanroom before final assembly – this takes two people two hours to complete.
37) The Spirit of Ecstasy is so valued by the marque that there is a safe lock on the shop floor containing no more mascots than the necessary for one day of production. The code is known only by a small circle of craftspeople.
© Thomas Wirth
by Stefanie Stüting
The Comporta Polo Club – positioning Portugal as an international Polo Hub. The Portuguese word Alegría means happiness. With Canadian top player Fred Mannix (hdc +8) and his world-class Alegria Polo Team, the Comporta Polo Club now has a top-class advocate in the international sport of polo.
While the world stands still under the spell of the Corona Virus, preparations for the construction and opening of the Comporta Polo Club in Portugal are running full steam ahead. The architects, engineers, surveyors and creative minds have adapted to the situation flexibly, with an eye to the future and as such, are working full tilt on the next steps from their home offices. The building applications have been submitted and the authorities have given their assurance that they will deal with them quickly in light of the virus crisis, which makes their rapid processing and approval look highly likely. The wheel continues to turn and when the world starts up again, Comporta will be ready and have completed all the necessary preparations.
What the builders and Comporta visionaries Stefan Gast and Ricardo Bellino have achieved in the meantime is unique in the world of polo. They have brought star polo architect Alejandro Battro and Andrés Stirling, also renowned for his expertise in building polo fields, to the table to work together for the first time in Comporta. Alejandro Battro, who has built 800 polo fields in 35 countries over the past 40 years, is the No. 1 in the world. Stirling, who comes from Uruguay, has been at home in Sotogrande, Spain, for many years and has built and managed the last five fields for the Santa Maria Polo Club. Both will be pooling their enormous know-how in Comporta. Battro will design and plan, Sterling will project and supervise the construction on site. With a common goal in mind, both will now ensure that world-class polo fields are built in Comporta.
However, that´s not all in the line up of big names that have been campaigning in favour of the new Polo Club in Comporta since its inception. Polo titan Fred Mannix is already exuding his enthusiasm on site and is now fully committed to the project. Mannix is not only one of the best polo players in the world but also regularly participates in the Triple Crown and the Palermo Open with his world-famous Alegria Polo Team. Hence, he brings world-class polo, a huge name and is a valuable partner for the new polo Eldorado in Portugal.
Meanwhile, the purposeful minds behind the project feel that the current crisis has further driven home their commitment to incorporate sustainability, environmental protection, appreciation and a holistic approach into the new Comporta site. Obviously, a high degree of resilience and effective stress management play a huge role in ensuring an optimistic outlook for the future. The construction and grass-sowing of the polo fields is still entirely on schedule for May as programmed. There are also plans presently to set up a project known as “Comporta Valley”. The scheme compromises a digital forum for a young, international discussion group to develop forward-looking designs and key elements for a new generation concept.
Project Manager, Stefan Gast and his partner, Ricardo Bellino, are certain that “We will gain a lot of positive insights from this crisis, which in the long term will permeate our philosophy, right through to the soul, atmosphere and the international standing of the Comporta Polo Club.”
Alejandro Battro
“Comporta is a very attractive proposition due to its excellent geography, climate and proximity to picturesque beaches just minutes from the project site. The developers of Comporta Polo Club exude enthusiasm and we see this as an essential pre-requisite for achieving such an ambitious goal, namely to build a first-class polo centre. At Battropolofields we love a challenge, which is why we find this project in Comporta particularly interesting. The sandy soil has its advantages, yet it is also a challenge and requires special preparation. We will use construction techniques that are very different from what is common practice. We are deeply committed and believe this will be a wonderful location for polo.”
Fred Mannix
“It´s great to know that everyone is on form and not taking their eye off the ball! I feel honoured to be part of bringing a world class polo facility into Portugal. The team that Stefan and Ricardo have assembled has extensive experience in completing a project of this nature. When confirmation came through that Alejandro Battro, the premier polo field expert, was on board I knew we were starting on the right foot. After visiting the location some weeks ago, I saw that Comporta Polo Club is well situated in its location; only 90 kilometres from Lisbon and a short drive to the beach. The polo grounds will be world class and if you want to have a destination club for the summer season, fields will be critical. We will all be working very hard in the coming months to get the Comporta Polo Club positioned as a premier destination for polo and visitors.”
Andrés Stirling
“I believe that the success of the Comporta Polo Club project rests on three fundamental pillars: the team, the location and the courage of the players. Stefan Maria Gast and Ricardo Bellino have embarked on this project with enormous enthusiasm, a vast knowledge of human nature and a sixth sense for hiring the best experts in each individual field, as well as great conviction and a sense of quality. Due to its natural beauty and its vast size, the Comporta region is a place that is difficult to rival in Europe. I am not exaggerating when I say that Comporta can become the horse and polo capital of Europe. There is a great deal of underground water here. The motorway connection to Lisbon, the proximity to its international airport, the marina in Setubal and Comporta´s paradisiacal beaches all weigh heavily in the Comporta Polo Club´s favour. Here you have wonderful, hospitable, authentic, hard-working people on tap as well as first-class gastronomy. In terms of the final pillar, courage. In every project there must be courage, opportunity, adventure, meticulous planning and a large footprint – all of this is can be perceived here, in abundance.”
Ricardo Bellino
“The most important tournament series in the worldwide sport of polo is the Triple Crown in Argentina. Known in Spanish as the ‘Triple Corona’. Ironically, at the moment we´re dealing with the 4th Corona Challenge. Yet, that doesn´t prevent us from working hard on our project every day, making progress and approaching the project with the right, positive attitude. Mindset is the key to the plot here and I´m currently writing a book on the subject called ‘Mind 8’. The book deals with the fact that our current way of thinking will no longer work for a successful future or outcome. We need to adopt a new way of ‘thinking’ in which we strongly believe in unconditional success and a new horizon after the storm. All these thoughts, which I present in my book, are also highlighted in our project and the development of the Comporta Polo Club. We are embarking on a new era – and preparing ourselves and thought patterns to embrace it.”
Stefan M. Gast
“For us the development and construction of the Comporta Polo Club has a deeper meaning and purpose in terms of wholeness, sustainability and the answers we can find and provide to the pressing questions of the future. So, in this regard, the global corona virus is having a positive impact on our project as it´s leading us to pause, reflect and re-adjust right now. Next month we will be setting up an international digital workshop with young people from a wide range of qualifications and industries, in which we will ask questions about the future and seek very concrete answers that will then be incorporated into our project. Running over three to four weeks, the workshop will focus on philosophical questions such as the relationship between nature, man and animals as well as on very practical areas such organisation, design of the stables, networking and digital presence. Following the themes of Ricardo Bellino´s book, the workshop will be called ‘Mind 8 Valley’ and we are already looking forward to presenting the results to you very soon. Until then, we can count on maximum support from the various official institutions and chambers in the Alcacér do Sal region, especially the tourism departments of Alentejo and Portugal, of which we can be very proud.”
For more information about polo in Comporta, please click here:
www.poloplus10.com/the-comporta-polo-club-78788/
www.poloplus10.com/your-specialist-for-polo-properties-worldwide-78768/
After endless weeks of winter weather that couldn’t be wetter and duller, the time comes when one deeply yearns for a change of scenery. Therefore, the postcard app Postando presents five accommodations whose indescribable views allow every viewer to escape from the everyday life. If you want to share your loved ones’ holiday happiness, the app makes it easy to send photos as real postcards via your smartphone. With the code VIEW, Postando is gifting every first-time user with a free postcard until the end of August.
Grace Hotel Santorin, Greek
The Grace Hotel Santorin, which belongs to the Auberge Resorts Collection, has a special charm: it was carved out of the island’s rock and fascinates with its minimalist white-blue buildings lined up along the cliff. Its architecture is known as the archetypal building style of the Greek island worlds. The lagoon-like infinity pool offers an incomparable panoramic view of the Cycladic caldera, which is partially submerged in the sea. At 363 meters above sea level, the Champagne Lounge is just the right place to watch the blue Aegean turn into a golden sea at a picturesque sunset. Moments like these create memories you want to capture and share with your loved ones. With the app Postando, vacationers can send this breathtaking scenery quickly and easily in the form of a real postcard. Up to six smartphone snapshots can be easily uploaded to the postcard app to personalize the back of the postcard and share the beautiful scenery with friends and family.
Ahwahnee Hotel, USA
In the heart of Yosemite National Park in the Californian Sierra Nevada, the luxurious Ahwahnee Hotel surprises with a strong contrast to the monotonous everyday life. The central park location makes the hotel a popular accommodation for active vacationers and adventurers. Named after the local Indian settlement, “Ahwahnee”, it blends harmoniously into the natural surroundings with a granite façade and rustic wooden elements. The hotel offers phenomenal views of the iconic sights of the National Park: The “Half Dome”, an impressive rock formation and the “Yosemite Falls”, which are among the highest waterfalls in the world.
Kayumanis Ubud Private Villas & Spa, Indonesia
Not far from Bali’s cultural capital Ubud, the intimate oasis of peace Kayumanis Ubud Private Villas & Spa is located in the heart of a mystical highland region. Surrounded by blossoming flowers and cinnamon groves, guests are invited to indulge in a variety of spa treatments and learn about the fine Balinese cuisine in a cooking class. One of the resort’s highlights is the infinity pool, which visually blends in with the deep green expanse of the surrounding tropical rainforest. From there you can watch the gently flowing Ayung River, which radiates an incredibly calm and comfortable atmosphere and rounds off the view of the magnificent jungle scenery.
Soul Collection Penthouse, South Africa
One of the most spectacular accommodations in Cape Town is located on the 17th floor of the Horizon Bay building on Table Bay Beach: The Penthouse of the Soul Collection. From this elevated position, you can admire the city’s imposing landmark – Table Mountain – whose striking plateau-shaped silhouette stands out against the orange-tinted morning and evening sky. The glass fronts of the penthouse allow an undisturbed view of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding miles of sandy beaches. This region is a hotspot for adventurous surfers who dare to jump on the waves towering meters high – such a scenery is often captured by the viewers on the beach in a video. With the smart app from Postando, you can then share the experience you have just captured with friends and family: Simply use the Postando app to select the desired postcard motif and greeting text as well as the previously recorded video from the media library or record a video directly via the app. The video message is then printed on the postcard with an individually created QR code and can be easily scanned and viewed via the recipient’s app.
PARKROYAL COLLECTION on Pickering, Singapore
For big city lovers, the luxurious hotel, PARKROYAL COLLECTION on Pickering, in the island state of Singapore is just the right place to relax. With its futuristic architecture, which is characterized by glass and green exterior facades, this hotel enhances the centre of Singapore. The term “urban jungle” takes on a whole new meaning with the view from this hotel: A total of 300 meters of planted jungle landscape are spread over six balconies, behind which the skyline of Singapore unfolds. The colourful cabanas at the edge of the infinity pool create a comfortable lounge atmosphere and invite you to relax and enjoy local delicacies. The roof terrace in the COLLECTION Club Lounge offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the entire city skyline.
These unique views are often captured in pictures to share with friends and family. With Postando, users send these memories as postcards in a very personal way: Simply design a personalized postcard using your own pictures in the app, compose a personal message and select the happy recipient. The self-designed postcard lands directly in the mailbox of the loved one and is a very special surprise. Thanks to the video function, Postando users can now even integrate moving images of their experiences and share them with friends and family more intensively. With the code VIEW, the first postcard is free for new users via the app until the end of August. Further information can be found at www.postando.de.
About Postando
The company specializes in the simple dispatch of individual postcards and greeting cards using a smartphone. In just four simple steps, each user – young or old – can design their own postcard and send their loved one directly to the mailbox:
Simply choose format and use your own photos or one of many templates, compose a personal message and select the lucky recipient. Lastly, check front and back before final shipping and pay. Whether you are on holiday, at a celebration or birthday party, or simply want to make yourself happy, Postando is the perfect solution for all occasions. Further Information can be found at https://en.postando.de.
© Thomas Wirth
by Stefanie Stüting
The Journey of the Dream Builders: The prominent Brazilian entrepreneur Ricardo Bellino gets on board.
Interview with Stefan Maria Gast & Ricardo Bellino
“Think Big! Focus! And think holistically!” Stefan Maria Gast, builder of the world-famous FIFA World Cup quarter, Campo Bahia, for the German national team and subsequent world champion at the 2014 World Cup and the Brazilian-born self-made millionaire, Real Estate Dealmaker and serial Entrepreneur Ricardo Bellino have come together to produce a force to be reckoned with. These two visionaries share a dogged determination to focus on their goals until they achieve them. And it´s with this formula for success that they are now embarking on the construction of the new “The Comporta Polo Club” in Portugal. Both entrepreneurs have had their eyes on bringing premium polo to the Comporta area for two years now. Now their paths have crossed and they are tackling the big goal together. The club, set in the heart of the beautiful Alentejo countryside, an hour from Lisbon, is due to open its doors this year. The polo world has Portugal in its sights where the club will host the first international polo tournament with a prominent line-up this autumn.
We are eagerly awaiting news about your exclusive new Polo project in Portugal, which was announced a few months ago. You promised to reveal the exact location in January …
Stefan Maria Gast:
Yes, the location has now been finalised and the land is contractually secured. The new Polo Club will be built on the Herdade da Monteira in Alcácer do Sal, one of the most beautiful country estates in the Alentejo. A mere 10 minutes from the centre of the historic, picturesque town of Alcácer do Sal and only 15 minutes to the dream beaches of Comporta. From Lisbon it takes only about an hour by car. So the location is unique – offering perfect conditions in a stunning setting along with excellent international connections.
When and how did you two come together as a team?
Ricardo Bellino:
I lived in Miami for over ten years before moving to Portugal a year and a half ago. Like Stefan Gast, I am convinced that we have a tremendous development ahead of us here. Our joint project, the construction of the Comporta Polo Club with the adjacent villas and hotels, is a holistic and sustainable design that we are building in partnership. We, as in our joint company “Bellgast – actually see ourselves as “Dream Builders”. We make dreams come true by thinking big and focusing relentlessly on our objectives. We have experienced what you could probably call the synchronicity of life. We are both on the same page as it were as we both think along the same lines and have the same end goal.
As a Brazilian, you have found a new home in Portugal and are very interested and talented in many different fields. What would you see as the most important milestones in your professional career so far?
Ricardo Bellino:
Together with John Casablancas I built up the American model agency “Elite Models” in Sao Paulo, Brazil and turned models like Giselle Bundchen and Adriana Lima into world stars. Years later, the current American president Donald Trump, invited me to a pitch – I had three minutes to present my project to him. Fortunately that was enough to convince him and together we developed a multi-million dollar real estate project in Brazil. It was an impressive experience, which I documented and recorded in a bestselling book, “You Have Three Minutes”. Years later, on a visit to Manhattan, I visited the Nespresso Boutique Bar on Madison Avenue with my wife Marina. I was amazed by the graphic power of these small, shiny Nespresso capsules adorning the shop walls. This gave me the idea of using the capsules artistically like the pixels of a picture. So I ended up creating a whole series of portraits of famous people. That was the beginning of a very productive and successful artistic phase, which I called “Pixels”. I have also been involved in the fight against breast cancer for many years. Together with a major global brand, we have achieved remarkable successes in this field. And the Comporta Polo Club will also be involved in the fight against cancer.
And what timing do you have in mind? When will polo be launched in Comporta?
Stefan Maria Gast:
The grand opening of the Polo Area with clubhouse and restaurant will take place at the end of October this year. In this first phase, two full-size polo pitches with three stick & ball fields are planned. By then, the clubhouse and restaurant as well as the first large section of the stables will also be complete. The Polo Club is the launchpad for the step-by-step development of a unique overall concept for the international sport of polo in Comporta over the coming years.
Ricardo Bellino:
Our visions for the location complement each other perfectly. And we are already in discussions with an international partner, a global brand that represents polo like no other. The countdown is has begun and we are working around the clock.
What exactly are the next steps?
Stefan Maria Gast:
In mid-February, experienced polo architects and a selected international team will be based on site to complete the plans for the two full-size pitches and the three stick & ball in detail. We are aware of the time challenge, but fortunately we have the most important factors such as weather and soil conditions on our side.
It is the kick-off, the zero hour, where it all begins. At the same time we will also start the workshops for the architects and engineers and prepare everything for the construction work. The authorities have promised us the approval of the building permits which will enable us to then start building.
Ricardo Bellino:
The entire area covers about 220 hectares. In the first phase we are building the Polo Club, followed by, in Spring 2021, the Boutique Hotel with 35 suites and the Private Residences for sale. The second major phase will see the resort hotel with 150 rooms and an apartment complex, the Polo University and Boarding School and the villas. The entire project will be completed over four years – 2024. The Polo University will house a campus for around 200 students. Our vision is that the new polo elite in Portugal will be educated here over the next ten years. The University will be built on 3 main pillars 1. A state-of-the-art sports academy for a new generation of polo players 2. Breaking paradigms to be successful in today’s VUCA world (VUCA = Volatility, Uncertainity, Complexity, Ambiguity) 3. A game-changing entrepreneurship boarding school inspired by the successful paths of true “dream builders”.
An event hall is also to be built on the site?
Stefan Maria Gast:
That´s right, an event and performance hall which, in addition to the polo activities, is also available for concerts, conferences and theater events with a capacity for 5,000 spectators will round off the overall concept.
A holistic and sustainable approach is particularly important to both of you. Why does respect play a major role in this?
Stefan Maria Gast:
For us, respect is one of the most important approaches. The harmonious interaction of nature, people and horses is our magic formula. My business partner, Ricardo Bellino agrees wholeheartedly with this concept. He, like me, focuses on a goal and never loses sight of it. That is exactly what makes us unbeatable in terms of turning dreams into goals and then reality. Hence why we chose the name Dream Builder.
For example, we must not forget the millennia-old history of Alcacer do Sal, which began long before the Phoenicians and left important Roman, Islamic and also Germanic traces. With our project we will bringing people to the region of Alentejo who have their own history and culture. Different cultures will meet here in the future which could naturally give way to a degree of tension. Our goal is to integrate these trepidations in our project and its offering. Only then will we be able to ensure that both the locals and the new residents and guests will feel comfortable and understood alongside each other. The key to this is to apply mutual respect.
Ricardo Bellino:
We want to instill a sense of happiness, fulfillment and above all a desire to return, or rather stay and make a new home here in Comporta. The Portuguese word “saudade” – the longing for a re-encounter – could not express it better. Success is therefore a logical consequence of this.
For more info about the project please ask our team:
hello@poloplus10.com
For more information about polo in Comporta, please click here:
www.poloplus10.com/your-specialist-for-polo-properties-worldwide-78768/
