Agustín García Grossi, Pedro Fernandez Llorente, Claude Haberer and William Zhao of the 22BR Polo Team from Hong Kong held off a spirited challenge by home favourites Thai Polo Club to win the B.Grimm-BMW Thai Polo Open at the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club in Pattaya on Saturday, Jan. 23.
The annual contest featuring six teams and many star players from around the world took place over several days, with the finalists being determined after a series of round-robin matches.
Thai Polo and 22BR clash in the final match at the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club in Pattaya. (Photo/Harpic Bryant)
The locally based Thai Polo team, featuring Caroline & Harald Link, Pablo Dorignac and Pablo Jauretche had beaten 22BR 5-1 in a match earlier in the tournament but in the final they got off to a slow start and quickly found themselves playing catch-up. A valiant fight back saw them put up a serious challenge for the trophy but eventually they were just edged out by a score of 7-6 in a thrilling match.
In the play-offs for the minor places, held earlier in the day, La Sarita defeated The Next Level/Macau 8-4 for third place while Royal Pahang edged HLF Polo 5.5-4 in a close match to decide fifth and sixth places.
The 22BR team featuring Agustín García Grossi, Pedro Fernandez Llorente, Claude Haberer and William Zhao celebrate on the podium after being crowned the 2016 B.Grimm-BMW Thai Polo Open champions, Saturday, Jan. 23.
As is usual for the Thai Polo Open, the event drew a large crowd of sports fans, VIPs, socialites and media, all enjoying the wonderful spectacle laid on by the tournament sponsors and host venue.
For socialites this is considered one of the main fashion events on the calendar and many of the ladies in attendance were sporting a wonderful array of headwear, with the emphasis this year appearing to focus on the colours black and white. At half time in the final match all the spectators took to the field to perform the traditional divot stomping and take advantage of some impromptu photo opportunities.
La Sarita defeated The Next Level/Macau for third place. (Photo/Harpic Bryant)
The day also featured a fancy dresses parade with children on horses, a show-jumping contest and a kids’ mini-polo match as well as a host of sponsors tents and vendors selling polo related paraphernalia.
Guests were asked to contribute 1,000 baht to the day which included lunch, high tea and a buffet dinner. The proceeds from the event will be distributed to charities in the kingdom under Royal patronage.
At the final awards ceremony the 22BR team members, standing under a large picture of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, were presented with the Thai Open trophy as fireworks lit up the night sky.
