After being in the final in 2012 and winning the Thai Polo Open in 2013, team Thai Polo defended its title at the fifth edition of the Thai Polo Open. Speaker Andy Harrison commented on the final: “Considering that we have the coldest winter in Thailand for thirty years (18 degrees during the night) the final was one of the hottest polo matches in many years.” The 2014 Thai Polo Open also were royally accompanied und supported. Charming young Thai HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, daughter of the crowned prince and the king’s granddaughter, watched the matches and presented the awards personally. POLO+10 also was present to witness the exciting match followed by the award ceremony.
Team Thai Polo with Caroline Link (0), replacing her injured father Harald Link (+1), Lucas Labat (+6), Agustin Garcia Grossi (+7) and Manuel Cereceda (+3) has deservedly won the BMW-B.Grimm Thai Polo Open. In a dramatic and extremely exciting final at the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club the foursome defeated Damian Marcos (+2), Dato Mohamad Zekri (+1), Francisco Menéndez (+6) und Manuel Crespo (+6) of team Kotasas-Ibil by 8-6.
The good teamwork between the Argentinian 8-goaler Agustin Garcia Grossi and Lucas Labat – given the title “Flying Labat” by speaker Andy Harrison – dominated the match. Caroline Link also did an outstanding job. At the end of the third chukka team Thai Polo lead by a four-goal margin, 7-3. The foursome of team Kotasas-Ibil with professional players Manuel Crespo and Francisco Menéndez also played a good game.
At the beginning of the fourth chukka Kotasas-Ibil moved up a gear to bring about a rebound. Francisco Menéndez charged across the field, tried to make up leeway and narrowed the gap to 7-5. Lucas Labat answered this and scored the eighth goal for his team. Kotasas-Ibil continued fighting and again narrowed the gap to 8-6. But Thai Polo defended its margin tactically very well and Kotasas-Ibil did not succeed in turning the match around. So the match ended with the final result of 8-6. Andy Harrison after the match: “Polo continues to grow in Thailand and it is an extraordinary experience for us to witness the 6 and 7 goaler at first hand.”
The impressive program of the grand final of the Thai Open started with show jumping. The Thai equestrian Nataporn Trirattanachart won the tournament and the highly remunerated prize of 100,000 Thai baht. The show jumping was followed by kids polo and kids fancy dress on horseback. This was a parade with kids dressed colourfully, being led in front of the stand in a carriage drawn by ponies in the guise of bears, butterflies, heroes and princesses. One of the many enthusiastic voices from the audience: “The day was fantastic, exciting matches in company of good friends,” said Caroline Hortcourt-Webster.
Matthias Pfalz, President BMW Group Thailand: „Since 2011, BMW and B. Grimm have proudly presented the Thai Polo Open, with the charitable intention to raise funds for HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Chitralada Vocational School project. In this year, it was our great honour that HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana graciously presided over the opening of the event. With more than 200 exclusively invited guests from BMW Group Thailand, the event started with show jumping, kids polo and kids fancy dress on horseback, before polo players from many countries participated in this prestigious tournament. The overall program was enriched, so that after the conclusion of the cup presentation, a fireworks and BBQ dinner was held for our guests at sunset. With breathtaking views of the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club, great weather and a friendly atmosphere, the BMW – B. Grimm Thai Polo Open has become an unforgettable experience that our guests always look forward to coming back to year after year.”
Agustin Garcia Grossi (+7, Thai Polo) was named Most Valuable Player, polo pony Diva of player Harald Link (+1) was chosen Best Playing Pony and received a trophy made of carrots.
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The standings:
1. Thai Polo (+16)
Caroline Link (0)/ Harald Link (+1)
Lucas Labat (+6)
Agustin Garcia Grossi (+7)
Manuel Cereceda (+3)
2. Kotasas – Ibil (+15)
Damian Marcos (+2)
Dato Mohamad Zekri (+1)
Francisco Menéndez (+6)
Manuel Crespo (+6)
3. Ranhill Polo (+16)
Amir Raul (0)
Gerardo Collardin (+6)
Facundo Llosa (+5)
Antonino Menard (+5)
4. Nine Dragons (+14)
Windsor Rao (0)
Augustion Martinez (+5)
Tomas Martinez (+4)
Federico Bachmann (+5)
5.AXUS (+15)
Brian Xu (0)
Dario MUSO (+6)
Ignacio TILLUS (+6)
Diego Gomez Echeverry (+3)
