Tournament

Europe, Polo News

Cartier Queen’s Cup subsidiary quarter-finals

18. August 2020

MT Vikings 9 – 8 Polo Stud Schockemohle

Segavas 11 – 10 Park Place Vaara

text by diana Butler

Two close games today confirmed who would be playing Monterosso and Next Generation in Thursday’s subsidiary semi-finals. The first match today saw Siri Evjemo-Nysveen not only return to her MT Vikings team but score too. Their opponents this morning were a higher-handicapped Polo Stud Schockemohle team. Looking for their first win in this tournament the German-based team were playing the four-goaler Charlie Hanbury in place of their patron Ekard Joules. This new strategy appeared to be paying off for them in the early stages of the match. They were 2-1 up after the first chukka and were 4-2 up in the second. Failing to score at all in the third was the turning point in this game though. MT Vikings may have only added one further goal to their tally at half-time but the dynamics in this match had slightly shifted. MT Vikings levelled the scores to 5-5 in the fourth and not only pulled away in the fifth but managed to maintain that all-important one-goal advantage on the final whistle. This team performance has earned MT Vikings a date with Next Generation on Thursday at midday.

Segavas have secured a subsidiary semi-final game on Thursday against Monterosso after beating Park Place Vaara at Coworth Park this afternoon. In addition to winning this match, this team also won the Gerard Leigh Trophy, presented in memory of a former Chairman of Guards Polo Club, Col William Gerard Leigh. He was Chairman of the Club from 1955 until 1981. The match had looked as if this was going to be Park Place Vaara’s game. They arrived at Coworth Park fresh from a surprising win over Les Lions/Great Oaks last Wednesday and everyone wondered if they had now found their spark. It seemed they had in the first few minutes – leading 4-1 in the early stages of the second chukka. Their game then stalled, while Segavas piled on the goals, taking the lead 6-5 at half-time. Park Place Vaara had not given up quite yet, remaining only a goal behind the leaders for the rest of the match. It was great to see such competitive play from both teams. Segavas will now play Monterosso in the second subsidiary semi final on Thursday. These two teams have already met in this year’s tournament, Monterosso coming out best last Tuesday. Segavas will be hoping to turn the tables on Alessandro Bazzoni’s team and win a place in Sunday’s subsidiary final, where the winning team heads home with the Cartier Trophy.

www.guardspoloclub.com

Photos by Tony Ramirez / IMAGES OF POLO

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MT Vikings 9 – 8 Polo Stud Schockemohle Segavas 11 – 10 Park Place Vaara text by diana Butler Two close games today confirmed who would be playing Monterosso…

Europe, Polo News

21. Zürich International Polo Ladies Cup

13. August 2020

By Jan-Marie Kiesel. @polocommentaries

It was girls only at Polo Park Zurich‘s 21st International Ladies Tournament 8-9th August. 26 female players competing at two levels – the Challenge League, a chance for many to play their first competitive polo, and the Medium Goal League where two professional female players, Rebecca Walters UK +6 and Jeanine Hugo-Menendez SA +5, strengthened and directed their higher goal team mates.

Saturday

We were blessed with a sizzling, sun-drenched weekend and polo to match. Saturday‘s games saw the three teams in the Challenge League sorting themselves out and pushing for points in a Round Robin competition. Shiva Strub, youngest player of this tournament at only 15 years of age, opened up the scoring for her team, Princes de Venoge, who went into Sunday with 2 points, Team Jolies Filles and Team Grand Cru with 1 point each.

Sunday

On Sunday the spectators started to gather early for the first game of the Challenge League at 11:00. The Place Salon normally in Zug, was set up field side to tidy and style heat-dampened hair and ice buckets were filled with complementary drinks. The prize-giving table was weighed down with prizes and sponsor gifts. Team Princes de Venoge came onto the field displaying a well-earned confidence. Belen Podesta and Anja Gutbrod were a great combination. Assisted by Antonia Sturzeis/ Claudia Ide and their goal getter, Shiva Strub, this team came out on top of the Challenge League with Jolies Filles second and Grand Cru third. The Most Valuable Player in this league was awarded to young Shiva.

At 12:30 we were ready for the Medium Goal, the two sides escorted onto the field by luxury cars from Aston Martin and introduced to the swelling spectator crowd. The meeting between these two outstanding teams did not disappoint. The teams had had time to get to know each other and they gave an inspiring performance. Again Estée Lauder went into the lead and kept up their half goal advantage until half-time, but the third chukker was the game changer. Jeanine was on very fast ponies and seemed to be everywhere. Morgan van Overbroek +2 BE came out on her favourite pony, the 6 year old Torcacita, and the body language was determination. Beata Dudler +1CH on her special third chukker pony, Lucy, looked equally determined. A hard fight ahead! Annita Van der Hoeven +1NL caught the spirit and the four powered into this chukker catching Estée Lauder daydreaming for a split second. Rebecca called to her side and got Indira Krattiger BR sprinting down the field to help in defence with heavy ride-offs. Larissa Esser +1NL gave her team some cracking backhands but Team Aston Martin had caught a whiff of success and moved into the lead. At this point, Estée Lauder were running out of time. In the end, it was Aston Martin‘s day and they took the prize for first place at this 21st International Ladies Tournament. In this league, it was Beata Dudler who was awarded the prize for the Most Valuable Player.

Gifts for the Girls

It would be hard to beat a prize giving like this at Polo Park Zurich‘s 21st International Ladies Tournament. There were smiles all round as each player was presented with wine, cosmetics, gift vouchers and polo equipment. DJ Zoe heated up the music and as I left the field I could see all 26 female players enjoying a drink together with family and friends. Fabulous atmosphere. Polo Park Zurich has done it again.

Photos: ClickPolo – Guadalupe Aizaga

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© Thomas Wirth

By Jan-Marie Kiesel. @polocommentaries It was girls only at Polo Park Zurich‘s 21st International Ladies Tournament 8-9th August. 26 female players competing at two levels – the Challenge League, a…

Europe, Personalities & Clubs, Polo News, South America

Polo Park Zürich 2020 season kicks off

9. June 2020

Polo Park Zürich is happy to share his polo program for Summer 2020. This season was delayed due to COVID19 in Europe and the closure of Buenos Aires airport. Since a few days, grooms, horses and all players are back and the club is now functioning at full speed. As most of majors events in Switzerland have been postponed or cancelled, PPZ may become this season the biggest polo hub in the center of Europe. And there will be much more than polo in the club, also available for private and companies events, starting art exhibition with some pictures from Irina Kazaridi, and organizing events such as wine tastings, test-drives, etc. “A very exciting season is awaiting us in the club !”

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Polo Park Zürich is happy to share his polo program for Summer 2020. This season was delayed due to COVID19 in Europe and the closure of Buenos Aires airport. Since…

Beach Polo, Polo News, Tournaments

Julius Bär Beach Polo World Cup Sylt 2019

27. May 2020

Due to the Corona Pandemic, the popular Beach Polo tournament on Sylt had to be cancelled. A review of the last year in pictures.

Pictures: © Rolf Simon

© Thomas Wirth

Due to the Corona Pandemic, the popular Beach Polo tournament on Sylt had to be cancelled. A review of the last year in pictures. Pictures: © Rolf Simon …

Asia, Polo News

Ghantoot march on as brave UAE keep hopes alive

19. March 2020

Araya the star for the hosts in victory over Abu Dhabi.

Hosts Ghantoot Polo Team continued to display match-winning form as they defeated Abu Dhabi by 11 goals to 6 in the 20th HH President of the UAE Polo Cup on March 17.

It was the second successive win for Ghantoot after their thrilling victory over Bangash Polo Team. In the day’s second game of the day, Her Highness Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum led the UAE Polo Team to a convincing 11-7 victory over Desert Palm. It was the first win for UAE following their narrow defeat to Al Habtoor, while Desert Palm suffered their second loss having the first one to Abu Dhabi in their previous match. HH President of the UAE Cup is being played behind closed doors and without the presence of any spectators in accordance with the regulations and guidelines issued by the UAE Government following the Coronavirus outbreak.

Only players and officials are present at the venue while the matches are contested and regulated in standard fashion with official umpires, and the results are recorded officially. Mr Zayed Khalifa Al Aboudi Al Zaabi, Ghantoot’s dynamic Executive Director commented: “We genuinely appreciate the understanding of our regular fans who are unfortunately deprived of watching world-class polo in the prestigious and signature event, the HH President of the UAE Cup 2020. “However, we continue to abide by the advice of our Rulers, Government and health authorities as we continue to put the safety of our society at the forefront of all our endeavors.” The ‘President of the UAE Cup’ offers a lucrative purse of half million DHS.

All games are being held at the state-of-the-art Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club in Abu Dhabi which was founded by HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and is run under the patronage and directives of his son, HH Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

AT A GLANCE
What: HH President of the UAE Polo Tournament
When: March 11-27
Where: Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, Abu Dhabi
Teams: 6 Polo Teams
Tournament Handicap: 18 Handicap
Watch it Live: www.presidentpolocup.ae
Notes: Crowd Cancelled

EVENT SPONSORS AND PARTNERS
• Governing Partner: Abu Dhabi Sports Council
• In association with: Emirates Polo Association
• Event Sponsors:
• YAS Capital Investments
• YAS International Properties LLC
• YAS International Development
• YAS International Holding
• YAS International Investment
• La Roche Pharmacy

Official Car:
• Premier Motors – Maserati

Official website: www.presidentpolocup.ae
Official social media: www.instagram.com/ghantootpolo

© Thomas Wirth

Araya the star for the hosts in victory over Abu Dhabi. Hosts Ghantoot Polo Team continued to display match-winning form as they defeated Abu Dhabi by 11 goals to 6…

Asia, Polo News

AL HABTOOR LEAVE IT LATE TO OVERCOME GRITTY BANGASH

17. March 2020

Facunodo Sola hits match-winning hat-trick in 5^th chukker.

Al Habtoor’s leading player Facuno Solo could not have hit peak form at a better time as he scored a stunning hat-trick in a tense final chukker to help hs team defeat a gritty Bangash 12-9 in the 20^th HH President of the UAE Polo Cup at the Al Habtoor Polo Resort on March 16.

Both team were lock at 8-goal each at the end of the fourth chukker, but it was Al Habtoot who came out stronger in the decider to strike four goals without conceding any, for a resounding victory. It was their second of the six-team 18-goal handicap tournament, following their 14-12 victory over the UAE Polo Team in an earlier game. One of the UAE’s leading polo clubs and tournament organisers, Al Habtoot comprise a strong team lead by Mohammed Al Habtoor, Felix Esian, Martin Podesta and the mercurial nine-handicapper, Solo. “I am delighted with the way the team performed under pressure,” said Al Habtoor. “The whole performance was very good right from the start. “We also won a tense match against UAE Polo Team which shows that we can handle the pressure. By playing this way and staying positive will also help the team to perform better. Overall out performance was solid and we look forward to our next match against Abu Dhabi (March 21).

“A win there will put us in a strong position in the tournament,” Despite losing two games on the trot Haider Bangash remained up-beat and said: “Full marks to our players for putting up such a spirted performance for the second consecutive match. “We lost both matches narrowly, which means that we can still mix it with the top teams. Perhaps we need to look at some things in our strategy and hopefully raise our game in the coming matches. Bangash play Desert Palm Polo Team in their third league match on March 21.

The ‘President of the UAE Cup’ offers a lucrative purse of AED 500,000.

The final of the tournament scheduled for March 27. All games are being held at the state-of-the-art Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club in Abu Dhabi which was founded by HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and is run under the patronage and directives of his son, The Chairman of Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club HH Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

FORTHCOMING MATCHES

Tuesday, March 17

2.30pm Ghantoot vs Abu Dhabi

4.30 Desert Palm vs UAE

Friday, March 21

3.30pm Ghantoot vs UAE

Saturday, March 22

2.30pm Desert Palm vs Bangash

4.30pm Al Habtoor vs Abu Dhabi

Tuesday, March 24

Semifinals

Friday, March 27

Final

AT A GLANCE

What: HH President of the UAE Polo Tournament

When: March 11-27

Where: Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, Abu Dhabi

Teams: 6 Polo Teams

Tournament Handicap: 18 Handicap

Watch it Live: www.presidentpolocup.ae

Notes: Crowd Cancelled

EVENT SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

Governing Partner: Abu Dhabi Sports Council
In association with: Emirates Polo Association
Event Sponsors:
YAS Capital Investments
YAS International Properties LLC
YAS International Development
YAS International Holding
YAS International Investment
La Roche Pharmacy
Official Car:
Premier Motors – Maserati

Official website: www.presidentpolocup.ae
Official social media: www.instagram.com/ghantootpolo

© Thomas Wirth

Facunodo Sola hits match-winning hat-trick in 5th chukker. Al Habtoor’s leading player Facuno Solo could not have hit peak form at a better time as he scored a stunning hat-trick in…

Asia, Polo News

Hosts Ghantoot rally late for exciting victory over Bangash

16. March 2020

HH President of the UAE Cup 2020 gets off to a busy start.

Hosts Ghantoot Polo Team went on a blistering attack in the fifth and final chukker to overcome a two goal deficit and defeat Bangash 9-8 on an action-packed opening day in the 2020 HH President of the UAE Polo Cup on Wednesday.

Ghantoot trailed their rivals 6-8 with less than seven minutes to play, but two goals each by their Argentinian professionals, Pablo LLorente and Marcos Araya, helped them turn impending defeat into a highly rewarding victory.

Both Llorente and Araya totally four goals each for the match played on a 18-handicap format over five chukkers. The star player for Bangash was the irresistible Manuel Elixalde who scores six of his team’s eight goals in a dominating display of high-quality polo at the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club. All the six participating teams were in action on a fun-filled opening day featuring competitive matches. Meanwhile, Al Habtoor’s Facundo Solo was in red-hot form scoring as many as 11 times in his team’s 14-13 victory over UAE Polo Team. The top scorer for the UAE was veteran Tomas Beresfors who struck eight goals in a match that could have gone any way.

The UAE were led by Her Highness Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and also featured Benjamin and Tomas Panelo. In the day’s third match Abu Dhabi Polo Team dominated Desert Palm for most of the 35 minutes of action for a 8-3 victory. The leading scorer for the winners was Martin Donovan with four goals while Ramiro Cordero, Martin Valent and Manuel Toccalino scored a goal apiece for Desert Palm. The ‘President of the UAE Cup’ offers a lucrative purse of AED 500,000. The final of the tournament scheduled for March 27.

Mr Zayed Alaboudi Al Zaabi, Ghantoot’s Managing Director congratulated the winners and wished the losers good luck for the remaining matches. “We could not have hoped for a better start to this prestigious tournament, which is held in the name of HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE.

AT A GLANCE

What: HH President of the UAE Polo Tournament

When: March 11-27

Where: Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, Abu Dhabi

Teams: 6 Polo Teams

Tournament Handicap: 18 Handicap

Watch it Live: www.presidentpolocup.ae

Notes: Crowd Cancelled

EVENT SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

• Governing Partner: Abu Dhabi Sports Council

• In association with: Emirates Polo Association

• Event Sponsors:

• YAS Capital Investments

• YAS International Properties LLC

• YAS International Development

• YAS International Holding

• YAS International Investment

• La Roche Pharmacy

• Official Car:

• Premier Motors – Maserati

Official website: www.presidentpolocup.ae
Official social media: www.instagram.com/ghantootpolo

© Thomas Wirth

HH President of the UAE Cup 2020 gets off to a busy start. Hosts Ghantoot Polo Team went on a blistering attack in the fifth and final chukker to overcome…

North America, Polo News

Snow Polo “White Hot Party With The Players” Set For Dec. 20th, Tickets On Sale

6. December 2019

After three days of snow polo action at the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship, fans will get a chance to party with the players for a good cause.

Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation, the designated philanthropic charity for the snow polo event, will host the „White Hot Party With The Players,“ on Friday, Dec. 20th, 6-9 p.m. at the new W Aspen Hotel. Fans will get the opportunity to meet some of the world‘s best polo players and enjoy music mixed especially for the W Aspen Hotel. General admission tickets are $200. VIP tickets are $1,000 and include perks such as Beverly Hills Caviar, bottomless champagne and other exclusive benefits. Also for sale are tickets to join British 6-goal player Malcolm Borwick for a one-hour polo lesson on polo horses on Dec. 20th at 9 a.m. at Rio Grande Park. The experience is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and limited to 10 people at $750 per ticket. To purchase tickets or browse the online auction items, go to bidpal.net/snowpolo.

Borwick is the Royal Salute World Polo Ambassador. Recently, Pernod Ricard announced a „standout new addition“ Royal Salute Snow Polo Edition, available for a limited time throughout December. „The Snow Polo Edition is a standout new addition with an extensive depth of flavour and fresh new look,“ said Royal Salute Master Blender Sandy Hyslop, who developed the limited-edition blend. „Being at the helm of the blending team behind Royal Salute, I‘m always looking for new inspiration, and snow polo has proven to be one of the richest sources yet for creativity and innovation. To capture the apposition of the intensity of the game against the graceful elegance of the backdrop associated with snow polo, it felt like the perfect opportunity to craft the very first blended grain whisky in our portfolio and I couldn‘t be prouder of the result.“ Added Borwick, „Snow polo is a spectator sport like no other with each match delivering an undeniably thrilling atmosphere, set in the breath-taking scenery of immaculate snow-peaked mountains. Royal Salute understands polo and the lifestyle it represents both on and off the field so well, it‘s an honour to be able to help open up the world of polo through the Royal Salute Polo Collection and the global partnerships it has formed over the last ten years.“

All proceeds from the party and auction benefit the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation.

Aspen Valley Polo Club, the nation‘s fastest growing polo club, has a longstanding relationship with the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation. The club annually hosts the Chukkers, Champagne and Caviar event in front of a sellout crowds and helped to raise more than $600,000 this summer for priority programs and services at Aspen Valley Hospital. The foundation‘s signature fundraising event has raised over $1.6 million in the past three years. The St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship is one of the world‘s top snow polo tournaments and only snow polo event in the U.S. In front of an expected sellout crowd and worldwide ChukkerTV audience, action begins Wednesday, Dec. 18, with qualifying games at Aspen Valley Polo Club and continues Thursday and Friday at Rio Grande Park. For the seventh consecutive year, Aspen Valley Polo Club owners Melissa and Marc Ganzi, will host the star-studded event along with polo ambassador and St. Regis Connoisseur Nacho Figueras and his wife Delfina. The event has joined St. Moritz as one of the world‘s top snow polo tournaments and one of Aspen‘s major international sporting events. It is the only snow polo event in North America, final stop on the World Polo Tour and kickoff to the holiday social season in Aspen. The snow polo tournament is a major attraction for the local community, attracts fans from all over the world, and is a major allure for the Aspen community and surrounding areas. The sport was first played on a frozen lake in St. Moritz, Switzerland, created by Swiss hotelier and polo visionary Reto Gaudenzi in 1985 and has been growing in popularity ever since, attracting thousands of spectators and top players from around the world. In addition to St. Moritz, it‘s played in winter sports communities Aspen, Cortina, Italy, Kitzbuhel, Austria, Courchevel, France and Tianjin, China. In the U.S., snow polo is held exclusively in Aspen.

Aspen Valley Polo Club had its most successful and historic summer season in club and Rocky Mountain Circuit history. The club hosted several 20-goal tournaments including the 119th USPA Silver Cup and USPA North American Cup, attracted some of the world‘s top players and had record crowds every weekend. The 20-goal World Polo League‘s Triple Crown of Polo tournament featured five teams and several top players. With the majestic 12,965-foot summit of Mount Sopris as a backdrop, Aspen Valley Polo Club is one of the busiest USPA-sanctioned clubs in the nation.

Since Marc and Melissa Ganzi founded the club in 2014, polo has increased in popularity in Aspen and surrounding cities with the club‘s offerings of various weekly grass and arena tournaments, Tuesday Arena & Asado Nights, Kidz Polo, The Polo School headed by former 8-goaler Juan Bollini, and Polo On Demand. In addition, the club offers practice sessions for teams competing in the club tournaments.

Since 2014, Aspen Valley Polo Club has had a positive impact in the area hosting kids polo camps, teaching lessons and several charitable events at the club that have benefitted local charities including the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation.

By Sharon Robb

Click Here To Purchase Tickets:
www.eventbrite.com

2019 St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship Dec. 17-20

12/17 At St. Regis Resort Aspen
8 p.m. Team Presentation/Draw and Cocktail Party

12/18 at Aspen Valley Polo Club
11 a.m. Barn tour & Blacksmith work station
11:30 a.m., Round Robin Game 1
1 p.m., Round Round Game 2

12/19 Press Day at Rio Grande Park
12 p.m. VIP Tent Opens
1:15 p.m. High Alpine Cup, playoff for fifth and sixth place.
2:30 p.m Celebrity Polo Chukker

12/20 at Rio Grande Park
12 p.m. Meet the Players
1 p.m., The Final
3 p.m. The Aspen Cup
4:15 p.m. Trophy Presentation

www.aspenvalleypoloclub.com

© Thomas Wirth

After three days of snow polo action at the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship, fans will get a chance to party with the players for a good cause. Aspen…

Polo News

STAGE SET FOR 19TH EMIRATES POLO CHAMPIONSHIP INTERNATIONAL With $100,000 Prize Money

4. December 2019

The 19^th Emirates Polo Championships International kicks-off on Saturday, December 7 at the Ghantoot Racing &Polo Club with five top teams battling it out over the next two weeks. Who are the players to keep an eye on and who are the favorites to lift the prestigious trophy on December 20?

For many, the Emirates Polo Championships International signals the proper tart of the UAE Polo scene. It is a high-profile event that provides fantastic action, close matches, upsets and also produces some unsung heroes, like it did last season when Argentine’s exciting Tommy Panelo picked up the coveted Professional Player of the final award.

This year’s event has its share of star players, both from the UAE and overseas, with several big-name players from Argentine, ready to showcase their polo skills. The five participating teams are Abu Dhabi Polo Team led by long-time polo enthusiast and supporter, Abdullah Bin Desmal’s Ghantoot Polo Team, Abu Dhabi Polo Team led by Faris Al Yabhouni, Shaikha Alyaa Al Maktoum and the Al Habtoor Polo Team, Desert Palm Polo Team led by Rashid Al Bawardy and Heider Bangash’s Mahra Bangash Polo Team. The two highest rated polo players in the 10-12 handicap event are Santiago Cernadas (7) who represents a strong-looking Al Habtoor Team and Ghantoot’s six-handicapper Manuel Toccalino. A total cash prize of $100,000 is up for grabs with the winning team collecting $60,000 and the runner-up $40,000. The Emirates is widely regarded as one of the region’s most important polo events as it attracts some of the world’s top professional players.

THE TEAMS

Ghantoot (+12)
Abdullah Bin Desmal (0)
Mateo Lalor Bengolea (+2)
Esteban Costas (+4)
Manuel Toccalino (+6)

Al Habtoor (+11)
Shaika Alyaa Al Maktoum (+1)
Habtoor Al Habtoor (+1)
Santiago Cernadas (+7)
Tomas Iriarte (+4)

Desert Palm (+12)
Rashid Al Bawardy /
Cachilo Marty Hgguy (+2)
Martin Valeny (+5)
Sam Intstone (0)
Ramiro Cardero (+5)

Mahra Bangash (+10)
Heider Bangash (0)
Tariq Al Habtoor (+1)
Tuki Ruiz Guinazu (+4)
Federico Von Potobsky (+5)

Abu Dhabi(+11)
Faris Al Yabhouni (0)
Sergio Damian Quiroga (+2)
Hugo Barabucci (+4)
Martin Donovan (+5)

At A Glance

What: UAE Polo championships International

When: December 7th to 20^th,, 2019

Where: Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club

Watch all the polo games live : www.grpc.ae – via Polocam TV

For more infos: www.grpc.ae

Official social media: www.instagram.com/ghantootpolo

EVENT SPONSORS

Governing Partner
Abu Dhabi Sports Council
Emirates Polo Association

Official Sponsor
Yas International Properties
Yas International Holding
Yas International Investment
Yas International Development
Yas Capital Investment
La Roche Pharmacy

Official Car
Premier Motors – Maserati

Sponsors:
Cassells Al Barsha Hotel
Bin Ham Travels

© Thomas Wirth

The 19th Emirates Polo Championships International kicks-off on Saturday, December 7 at the Ghantoot Racing &Polo Club with five top teams battling it out over the next two weeks. Who…

Polo News

AM Polo Claims the UAE National Day Cup 2019

3. December 2019

The week-long tournament held to commemorate the UAE National Day was concluded with two exciting matches on the grounds of Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club.

The subsidiary final kicked off with a promising start as Green Gates Polo team gained a fast lead over Habtoor Polo, 3 – 1. Both teams scored goals during the next chukker, and after half time the teams were tied at 6 – 6. JJ Diaz Alberdi took the lead that was seconded by a goal from Habtoor Al Habtoor that primed Habtoor Polo for the win. JJ scored another goal and closed the match at 9 goals to 8.

Before the final, the UAE National anthem was played followed by the presentation of the players of AM Polo and Bangash/Mahra Polo teams.

The first chukker ended with a 1.5 goal advantage for Bangash/Mahra. The succeeding chukkers were a flurry of goals from both teams with Bangash/Mahra still with the lead by the end of the third chukker. The excitement went up a notch as AM Polo tried to catch up to its opponent as Bangash/Mahra strongly defended its position with 2 more goals making its victory imminent.

With 90 seconds left on the clock, AM Polo surprised the crowd as Alejandro Gowland scored a goal and Tomy Iriarte sealed the win with a 60-yard penalty shot. The match ended with a final score of 7.5 – 7 in favour of AM Polo. HE Humaid Bin Drai, Founder of Bin Drai Enterprises awarded the teams. Travesura was named the Best Playing Pony and Tomy Iriarte as the Most Valuable Player.

This Friday‘s Polo Picnic was in full swing as guests watched the matches in picnic style and the children amused themselves in a dedicated kids area. Three lucky winners received prizes with a total worth of AED 10,000 in cash and gift items during the Run-N-Hunt competition. The UAE National Day Cup 2019 is sponsored by Zio Technologies, a system integration firm with 16 years of experience across the Middle East, India and Africa.

www.alhabtoorpoloresortandclub.com