Team members gather for a
group photo at the conclusion of the tournament.
Martin Bilsborrow
The much anticipated finals day of the 2012 Annual
B.Grimm Polo tournament took place at the picturesque Thai Polo & Equestrian
Club near Horseshoe Point on Saturday, January 21.
Held to raise funds for HRH Princess Maha Chakri
Sirindhorn’s Chitralada Vocational School project, the tournament featured 9
polo teams from China, Malaysia, Singapore, Macau as well as defending
champions the Thai Polo team, playing in a round robin format in the 10 days
leading up to the ‘big’ event.
Tournament winners La Sarita
raise the Princess Cup trophy after winning the 2012 BMW-B.Grimm Thai Polo
Open final.
Thursday’s semi finals featured the top four teams and
saw local favorites Thai Polo edge past Royal Pehang from Malaysia 6-5 in
the closest of matches, while La Sarita and Troika had a similar nail-biting
affair with the former emerging victorious by a score of 11-10.
Saturday’s grand event saw hundreds of polo fans and
debonair folk descend on the Thai Polo and Equestrian Club field to enjoy
what has become one of the social events of the year. A huge and decorous
marquee had been erected to provide all in attendance with a delicious
buffet, wine and refreshments while around the ground were dotted numerous
stall and tents offering sponsors ‘freebies’, shops selling polo related
attire and even a fortune teller, presumably giving out tips on the final
match.
Runners-up Thai Polo are
congratulated by Saudi Arabian Charge D’Affaires H.E. Nabil Hussein Ashri
(left).
To keep the young ones happy pony rides were organized,
various games were held among the shady palm trees, and there was no
shortage of tired horses requiring a little petting and pampering after
their exertions on the field.
B.Grimm Polo has become something of a magnet for VIP’s
and dignitaries to be seen at and this year was no exception. Notables in
attendance were HRH Crown Prince Abdullah ibni Sultan Admad Shah of Pahang,
Malaysia, German ambassador Rolf Schulze, Argentine ambassador Ana Maria
Ramirez and the Saudi Arabian Charge D’Affaires H.E. Nabil Hussein Ashri.
The polo stars of tomorrow
show off their skills.
Prior to the final match taking place, a children’s polo
exhibition was held to put a spotlight on the stars of tomorrow, and
following the traditional stomping of divots by all and sundry a special
parade was held on the field showcasing sponsor BMW’s latest and sleekest
cars now available in Thailand.
In a very exciting and close final, Asad Jumabhouy and
his La Sarita team claimed the Princess Cup, beating defending champions
Thai Polo by the narrowest of margins to win the BMW-B.Grimm Thai Polo Open
2012.
It was an extremely well fought match between two great
teams as La Sarita’s experienced foursome knocked Thai Polo out of the
winner’s circle by half a goal on handicap, with a final score of 8ฝ to 8.
In a dramatic 4th chukka, Thai Polo fought hard to pull
back 3 goals and close the gap on their Malaysian opponents. Then in the
dying seconds, Thai Polo missed a penalty that would have secured victory
for the home team and defending champions. Nevertheless, La Sarita had
demonstrated strong play throughout the tournament and they emerged as
worthy winners.
Troika chase the ball
downfield in the playoff match against Royal Pahang.
Third place honors went to another team from Malaysia,
Royal Pahang with a score of 8 to 6 over Troika, who finished the tournament
in 4th place.
Following the Cup presentation, made by the Argentine
ambassador Ana Maria Ramirez and President of BMW Group Thailand, Matthias
Pfalz, to the winning La Sarita team, a cocktail party was held outside the
clubhouse with music provided by the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, and to add
a special finale to the occasion, a spectacular firework display lit up the
sky as the spectators and players started to make their way home.
With all the fun and festivities of the day it was easy
to lose track of the fact that the tournament is also a charity event and
over 1 million baht was raised this year by the generous sponsors and
spectators for HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Chitralada Vocational
School project.
Looking one’s best is almost
as important as the polo at this event.
A drop of ‘bubbly’ always adds
to the party atmosphere.
Stopping the divots is a
tradition at any polo event.
The pre-final parade is led
from behind the wheel of a black BMW Z4 by Nunthinee Tanner, co-owner of the
Thai Polo & Equestrian Club.
Avasada Pocmontri (left) won
the Best Hat Award and Apinya Sevatasai (right) the Best Dress Award.
La Sarita and Thai Polo go
head to head in the final match.
The horses once again received
most of the star attention.
