The Thai Polo & Equestrian Club grounds in eastern Pattaya were the setting for the La Posta Cup competition, conducted between the 28th and 30th November, and held for the first time in Thailand.
The La Posta Cup, a perpetual trophy, had its beginnings in Argentina, with the inaugural event taking place in 1973. The trophy was played up to 14 goal standard. Santiago Bachmann, the 36-year-old Thai Polo & Equestrian Club manager and senior resident veterinary surgeon, arranged the tournament, which featured players representing four competing teams: Adamas, Hong Kong, Maple Leaf, and Paisano.
Teams battle for honours in the La Posta Cup at the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club, Sunday, November 30.
In the first round, held on the 28th, Paisano downed Hong Kong while Maple Leaf defeated Adamas. The semi-finals took place the next day, with Adamas roaring into the final by downing Paisano while Maple Leaf downed Hong Kong.
The final, to be played between Adamas and Maple Leaf was, unfortunately, delayed due to inclement weather and has been postponed until a date to be fixed, although Santiago said it will take place in December.
Over the same weekend, November 28-30, the third and final round of the FEI World Cup show jumping SEA League took place at the same venue. The International Equestrian Federation-sanctioned competition, which featured eight competitors, saw Siengsaw Lertratanachai emerge victorious in this final round.
All three rounds of the FEI World Cup Jumping SEA League have been held at the well-appointed Thai Polo & Equestrian Club. While the second round was entirely made up of Thai competitors, the events are open to international teams as well as local participants. This third round saw a French team of two and one Swedish national, who has lived a long time in Thailand, take on the five Thai equestrians.
Note: The annual Queen’s Cup Pink Polo tournament will take place at the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club this coming Sunday, Dec 14. The tournament is held to help raise funds for the Queen Sirikit Center for Breast Cancer at Chulalongkorn Hospital and the Thai Red Cross Society.
The final round of the FEI World Cup show jumping SEA League took place from November 28-30.
The tournament features an all-women cast, with the players turning up for the matches dressed in pink, while the venue itself will be adorned in matching decor. The day’s events begin at 12 Noon and include show jumping, a fashion show on horseback, best hat competition, kids’ polo, Pink Polo final with divot stomping & high tea, fireworks Assado & dancing.
Entrance costs 1,000 baht as a donation to the Queen Sirikit Center. For more information, call Kh. Surapol on 081 617 4744 or check website: www.thai-polo-club.com.
