After last year’s successful premiere, the Ladies Cup Berlin 2022 went one better with a great atmosphere and glamour. In the end, players, guests and the organizer were happy all round.
„Beautiful weather, beautiful women, beautiful horses, beautiful cars – and above all rousing polo. It couldn’t have gone better!“ After three sparkling days at PoloPark Berlin, organizer Thomas Strunck drew an all-round positive balance for the Ladies Cup 2022. Top players from eight nations such as Canada, the USA and Switzerland came to the second edition of the women’s tournament to thrill the audience with top polo. For the Argentine Milagros „Milli“ Sanchez, who with a women’s handicap of 7 is one of the world’s best young players, it was her first visit to Germany. She did not disappoint in terms of play – even if in the end she and the rest of the Polo Sylt team “only” managed third place.
The Berlin crowd was also in a class of its own, providing glamorous eye-catchers time and again: for example, the ladies from the Red Club Germany, a networking club for women founded by lawyer Michaela Mumm-von Oldenburg, who lived up to the club’s name with their dazzling outfits. And when various members of the RREC (“The international Club for Rolls Royce & Bentley Enthusiasts Germany”) drove up with their noble cars before the start of the second day of play on Saturday, hardly anyone would have been surprised if the Queen had also stopped by for a short visit…
Among the more than 1000 enthusiastic guests were celebrities such as actress Maren Gilzer, who outed herself as a polo fan: „I’ve been enjoying the atmosphere time and again for many years and am now discovering more and more women’s polo.“ Media expert Jo Groebel, whose wife Grit Weiss, who was also present, used to organize polo tournaments herself, summed up the atmosphere at PoloPark Berlin as follows: „It’s a perfect mix of casual relaxedness, a pinch of glamour and a good dose of Berlin snottiness. Wonderful!“
In addition to the new Miss Germany Tatjana Genrich and It-Girl Cathy Lugner, fashion star and eccentric icon Harald Glööckler didn’t miss the chance to drop by on finals day and enjoy the flair – although for him top-class polo was rather secondary: „I love horses! For me, they are the greatest and noblest animals in the world.“ And the weather? It played along perfectly: It was mostly sunny and neither too cool nor too hot and made a statement on the final day with bright sunshine. Visitors were treated to an exciting mix of classic burgers, salad bowls and Sylt oysters – served by Germany’s only oyster sommelier, Peter Richter.
In the end, in a hotly contested final, which like all matches was expertly commented by „The Voice Of Polo“ Jan-Erik Franck and Jan Zavazal, the team Ingo Pyko Immobilien won out of six teams with 7.5 : 6 against Ostseebad Dahme. What remains are satisfied players, guests and organizers – as well as the good feeling that the Ladies Cup is well on its way to playing out its full potential and could thus also establish itself as a fixed polo highlight of the season.
RANKING
1. Team Ingo Pyko Immobilien
Clara Mahla, CZ
Maike Hölty, GER
Svenja Hölty, GER
Laura Fass, SA/GER
2. Ostseebad Dahme
Dr. Anne Großmann, GER
Marit Fass, GER
Marie Haupt, GER
Filippa Luserke, GER
3. Polo Sylt
Heidi Silvey, USA
Emily Hase -Loock, GER
Sophie Schmidt, GER
Milagros „Milli“ Sanchez, ARG
4. InMedias / POLO+10
Ann Kathrin Brendel, CH
Jolie Lange, GER
Camila di Luciano, USA
Marketa Pavleye, CZE
5. Pool Riese
Mona Scharf, GER
Jeanette Diekmann, GER
Romy Grüner, GER
Dele Iversen, GER
6. ELASTEN / COSMOPOLO
Megan Manubay, USA
Emily Hurst, CAN
Marie Christine Fuchs, SGP
Jen Buchan, CAN
The youngest players Lupita Fass 12 years and Marie Christine Fuchs 13 years received an award for their great performances at the award ceremony.
All players, guests, visitors and organisers are already looking forward to the Ladies Cup 2023. Further information is also available at www.baltic-polo-events.de.
