Hublot Polo Gold Cup

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Hublot Polo Gold Cup 2023: Laplacette in his backyard … once again!

24. August 2023

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

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…

Instagram, Polo News

HUBLOT POLO GOLD CUP GSTAAD, 17-20 AUGUST 2023

13. June 2023

THE TEAMS ARE UNVEILED

The 2023 edition of the Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad, from August 17th to 20th, promises to be highly competitive… as usual! Four teams with two captains from Germany, one from Switzerland and one from France (the defending champion), and three other nations will be represented: England, Brazil and, of course, Argentina, headlined by Martin Aguerre Jr, winner of the prestigious Copa Càmara in Argentina.

It‘s in the colors of HUBLOT that ‚Martincito‘ Aguerre, handicap 7, will discover the very special polo field at Saanen-Gstaad airport for the first time in his career. A valuable asset for German captain Jürgen Schröder. Martin Aguerre Jr. is a player who essentially „grew up“ in France, at the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly. His father, Martin, was a pillar of the Chantilly-based Swiss team, Marquard Media, and played in Gstaad. Martin Jr. took over naturally, while his father has become a renowned referee who can be seen judging the biggest matches, such as those of the Argentine Open. This Abierto, which Martincito’s uncle Mariano won twelve times with three different teams, including La Dolfina. Enough of a reference to underline the fact that we‘re dealing here with one of the great families of Argentine polo… and therefore of international polo.

Former winner of the Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad in 2018, Swiss businessman Cedric Schweri returns this year in the green colors of KIELDER AGRO GROUP, still counting on Brazilian World Champion Joao Novaes. The Gstaad public knows and appreciates his spectacular, forward-moving game. In top form, he is capable of turning around the game. Last year, KIELDER AGRO GROUP was a finalist with a different team: will Cedric Schweri‘s new line-up offer him a chance for revenge?

The other German captain, Peter Cromm, will be counting on British player Max Charlton to lead GSTAAD PALACE to victory. Max Charlton is vivid player with his horses from England. Charlton is an all-round player, having shone on the snow in St. Moritz and is handicap 10 in Arena Polo! But he‘s just as daunting on grass: he more or less won all UK medium goal cups like the Queen Mother’s Cup (15-goal) and he recently won the traditional Westchester Cup in Wellington (USA), a high-goal match between the United Kingdom and the United States?

Last, but not least, title-holder Sébastien Le Page of France, seduced by Raul Laplacette‘s play and efficiency at the last edition where he promised to return with the Argentinian this year: „Raul? He‘s the quiet force! Yes, you get the impression that he‘s in slow motion all the time, but in fact he‘s always on the ball. This is the first time I‘ve played with him, but it won‘t be the last.” It‘s true that the Argentinian moves around the field with ease, giving the impression of being in several places at once and regularly sending long, decisive passes to his team-mates. A crucial player capable of bringing a second title to Lepage and a first to the new colors of Team GSTAAD.

For four days, the lawn bordering the airport‘s runway will be transformed into a competition field to which all eyes in the polo world will turn. But this sport is not just for the initiated: it‘s spectacular, easy to follow and fascinating. The beauty of the horses amazes, the skill of the players is jaw dropping. And it doesn‘t take long for the public to take up the cause of one of the four teams battling it out on the field. Six games in all, two each day, on Thursday 17th, Saturday 19th and the finals on Sunday 20th. Friday the 18th is dedicated to the traditional and picturesque team parade through the streets of Gstaad.

After the games, life doesn‘t stop: you can visit the village with its magnificent stalls, eat and drink, meet the players and a huge playground awaits the children.

From August 17th, the Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad is sure to be the Alpine event not to be missed.

THE 2023 TEAMS

TEAM HUBLOT
Jürgen SCHRÖDER – DE – Hcp. 0 (CAP)
Juan CORREA – ARG – Hcp.3
Matias GONZALEZ – ARG – Hcp. 4
Martin AGUERRE Jr. – ARG – Hcp. 7

TEAM KIELDER AGRO GROUP
Cedric SCHWERI – CH – Hcp. 0 (CAP)
Joao NOVAES – BRA – Hcp. 5
Thomas ASTELARRA – ARG – Hcp. 3
Francisco MENENDEZ – ARG – Hcp. 6

TEAM GSTAAD PALACE
Peter CROMM – DE – Hcp. 0 (CAP)
Max CHARLTON – ENG – Hcp. 6
Matias MAIQUEZ – ARG – Hcp. 5
James EMLYN – ENG – Hcp. 3

TEAM GSTAAD
Sébastien LE PAGE – FRA – Hcp. 0 (CAP)
Facundo KELLY – ARG – Hcp. 4
Francisco FUCCI – ARG – Hcp. 4
Raul LAPLACETTE – ARG – Hcp. 6

THE TEAMS ARE UNVEILED The 2023 edition of the Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad, from August 17th to 20th, promises to be highly competitive… as usual! Four teams with two…

Europe, Polo News

Clinique La Prairie wins Hublot Polo Gold Cup in Gstaad

29. October 2019

The 24^th Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad at the Saanen airfield saw spectacular polo matches against the breathtaking alpine backdrop. Polo Grandsigneur Dr Piero Dillier and his team could take the victory home.

With perfect weather and unforgettable alpine views it was only fitting the final be equally spectacular, and as expected, the teams boasting some of the world’s best, didn’t disappoint. Finally it was team Clinique La Prairie with Piero Dillier, Bautista Beguerie, Juan Manuel Gonzales and Lucas Labat who made it to the very top of the 24^th Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad. They defeated opponent Team Hublot with Marco Elser, Marcos Antinori, Nicola Antinori and Julio Novillo Astrada by a clear 10-5.

The best amateur player of the tournament, American Marco Elser, wore his trademarked grin while explaining that despite the clear defeat (10-5) there was no place for disappointment at the awards ceremony: “Being a finalist is already a great success in and of itself, and the winner was a beautiful team which produced a beautiful game with effective team organization and very good horses.”

Lucas Labat, Clinique La Prairie’s backbone, admitted it wasn’t that difficult to win with a team which has both, talent and chemistry. “I think this team is one of the best I’ve played with here in Europe, where I’ve been playing since 1998. The team worked together perfectly, the conditions were ideal, and the organization a well-oiled machine. For me, Gstaad is one of the best tournaments in Europe. My job was to send the ball to my forwards, who could then chain the goals. This is the type of polo I believe in, and I am convinced that in the future, we must return to this kind of open game.” In the match for 3^rd, Banque Eric Sturdza made good on their promise to try for the best result despite being dethroned of their title by Clinique La Prairie. In a much tighter game, they beat Gstaad Palace. In August 2020 this unique polo event will celebrate its 25^th anniversary. With Pierre Genecand and his teams at the helm, the quarter century celebration is sure to amaze team.

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