Sunday 18 August 2013

The 2013 Hublot Polo Gold Cup concluded with a stunning finale as Team Gstaad Palace took the elusive title of 2013 Champion knocking Team Hublot in to runner-up position after an invigorating contest which ended 8-7. Third spot was claimed by Team Banque Baring Brothers Sturdza SA, winning the day’s earlier fixture by 7 goals to 6 ahead of Team Star Design.

The Final could not have been a more fierce fight between two incredible teams, Team Gstaad Palace and Team Hublot. The players and ponies jostled for the lead continuously with each taking their turn at the top. In the end it all came to a head in the final 30 seconds when Eduardo Menendez scored a spectacular goal off the back of a penalty taking Team Gstaad Palace’s total score to 8 goals, just one ahead of Team Hublot, and secured victory and the 2013 title for this consistently high quality team. This is the second time they have stood atop of the podium at the Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad and it has no doubt left them hungry for the 2014 title.

The battle for 3rd and 4th position took place earlier in the day. It was an exceedingly intense match that went to a 5th Chukka decider. With the lead constantly changing throughout the match the crowd were enthralled and the result went right to the wire. The final decider came in the form of a magnificent golden goal by Marcos Riglos securing victory and overall 3rd place for Team Banque Baring Brothers Sturdza SA. Team Star Design put up a fierce fight but in the end had to settle for 4th place. Final score, 7 goals to 6.

Man of the match :

Pro – Santi Cernadas (Team Gstaad Palace)

Amateur – Cedric Schweri (Team Banque Baring Brothers Sturdza SA)

Top Goal Scorer :

Marcos Riglos (Team Banque Baring Brothers Sturdza SA) with 30 goals

Pony of the match :

Pelon (Eduardo Menendez – Team Gstaad Palace)

This past weekend has seen four days of sizzling polo competition in the dramatic setting of Gstaad nestled in Bernese Oberland. It is therefore no surprise that the Teams, Spectators and Tournament Organisers alike are eagerly awaiting the 2014 edition – more information on the Hublot Polo Gold Cup can be found at www.pologstaad.ch, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pologstaad, or on twitter at www.twitter.com/pologstaad.

Gualtiero Giori Team Captain Gstaad Palace:

The match was so close but in the end a beautiful victory! We took the lead in the initial chukka but then they came right back at us, the ‘Russian Mountains of Polo’ as we say! In the end, everything came down to the last 30 seconds, the suspense was intense – but this is Gstaad! This is our 4th Final and our 2nd win. The most memorable part of match for me? When we fought so hard to defend an attack from Team Hublot right on the line – we just about managed to get the ball away and in doing so we managed to score ourselves!

Cedric Schweri Team Captain Banque Barin Brothers Sturdza SA:

It was an intense match, very tight between the two teams. I am so pleased with today’s victory! Star Design beat us on Thursday so we were able to get our own back today! I am really happy with the way I played and I tried my very best not to get in the way too much of my team’s pro-players! I really do hope I get the chance to come back next year.

For further information, please contact:

Magali Dubois Vaucher
ComPeaR
E: press@pologstaad.ch Tel +41 78 608 03 23

Marianna Nagyova
Polo Club Gstaad,
E: info@pologstaad.ch Tel: +41 33 744 07 40 or visit: www.pologstaad.ch

Notes for editors

• The Polo Club of Gstaad was founded in 1995 and the first polo tournament was held in 1996
• In 2006 Pierre Genecand became President of both the Club and the Tournament. Hublot joined force in 2008
• The tournament takes place on the Gstaad Saanen airport field. Free entrance.
• Shops and Kinder Paradise will be open in the Official Village on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 11h onwardsDimanche 18 Aout 2013

Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad kicks off in spectacular fashion

Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad – Thursday 14 August 2013

The 18th edition of the Hublot Polo Gold Cup began today in superb sunshine, played out on the Gstaad Saanen airport field of the Polo Club Gstaad and the breathtaking alpine scenery that surrounds it. In the inaugural qualifying match, Team Star Design took victory over Team Banque Baring Brothers Sturdza SA by 9 goals to 8, whilst Team Gstaad Palace were victors in the second, winning 9-6 against Team Hublot.

The opening game between Team Star Design and Team Banque Baring Brothers Sturdza SA was a closely fought, high-energy affair with the tie needing a golden-goal extra chukka to separate the two teams. Beginning at a great pace, Team Star Design twice went ahead only for Team Banque Baring Brothers Sturdza SA to strike back almost immediately from the put in, finally taking the lead themselves with a well-taken goal from Argentine Juan de Ezcurra after he went clear, ending the chukka 3-2 up.

The intensity of play continued in the second and third chukkas, Team Banque Baring Brothers Sturdza opening up a two point lead at 7-5 going into the fourth with another score from de Ezcurra, two from Marcos Riglos and one for Martin Riglos. It was then that the Star Design team stepped it up a gear, winning the final chukka in normal time, 3 goals to 1 – Brazilian 8 goaler, Olavo Novaes claiming a brace alongside one for Nicolas Ruiz Guinazu – to finish 8 all. Thus, a golden-goal chukka ensued and a penalty score from Novaes gave him his fourth of the match and his Team Star Design the win.

The second of the two matches was another tight competition as Team Gstaad Palace and Team Hublot took to the field. A quiet start to the first chukka culminated with a flurry of scores – Team Hublot’s Argentine 6-goaler, Francisco Fucci opening the scoring only for his compatriots on the opposition side, Eduardo Menendez and Santi Cernadas grabbing a quick-fire point apiece for a 2-1 lead. The second chukka ended as the first did with the only difference being that the other Fucci, Gonzalo was the Team Hublot scorer, consequently putting Team Gstaad Palace in front by 4 goals to 2 as spectators walked onto the field for halftime.

The third chukka saw a revived Team Hublot drag themselves back into the game thanks to one goal each from the Fuccis’, only for the outstanding Cernadas to give his team back its lead going into the closing chukka. As both teams eyed victory, play swung from end-to-end, Team Gstaad Palace’s Cernadas claiming a hat-trick which included a superb 60-yard penalty high into the goal, alongside one for Italian Gualtiero Giori. Scores from Team Hublot’s Salvatore Jauretche and an incredible solo effort from Francisco Fucci were not enough for the game to end 9-6 to Team Gstaad Palace.

A grand parade of the players and horses down Gstaad’s world-renowned promenade follows tomorrow, Friday 16 August, from 16:00, with matches resuming the following day.

On Saturday 17 August, the tournament’s Polo Village – featuring an array of top brands including Hublot, Banque Baring Brothers Sturdza SA, Gstaad Palace & Star Design – will open at 11:00 followed by the first of the second round of matches at 13:30, the second match beginning at 15:00, and a prize giving ceremony preceding this. In the evening an exclusive Polo Night will be hosted within the tournament’s VIP tent, with guests treated to a host of fantastic cuisine and top entertainment throughout the night including international vocalist Tara McDonald who has been confirmed alongside Australian comedian, Rob Spence.

Quotes

Allegra Nasi, Captain Team Star Design, winner of the first match against Banque Baring Brothers Sturdza SA “This is really a superbe event. The organisation is great and the ground is very good. It is a pleasure. We played to win, not just to warm up.”

Ricardo Tattoni, Team Gstaad Palace, winner of the 2nd match said, “It was a smooth match but engrossed and sporty. It was a good match to enter the competition with and there was no aggressiveness from either side – above all Fair Play prevailed.”

Pierre Genecand, President of the tournament said: “It was a fantastic 1st day, with a very high level of competition. The quality of players and horses is exceptional. I am also very pleased with the quality of the field.”

1st Qualifying Match Scores by Chukka

1st Chukka

Team Banque Baring Brothers Sturdza 3 -2 Team Star Design

2nd Chukka

Team Banque Baring Brothers Sturdza 2 -1 Team Star Design

3rd Chukka

Team Banque Baring Brothers Sturdza 2 -2 Team Star Design

4th & 5th Chukka

Team Banque Baring Brothers Sturdza 3 -2 Team Star Design

2nd Qualifying Match Scores by Chukka

1st Chukka

Team Gstaad Palace 2 – 1 Team Hublot

2nd Chukka

Team Gstaad Palace 2 – 1 Team Hublot

3rd Chukka

Team Gstaad Palace 1 -2 Team Hublot

4th Chukka

Team Gstaad Palace 4 -2 Team Hublot

Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad Teams

Team Banque Baring Brothers

Cedric Schweri (SUI; Hcp. 0)

Martin Riglos (ARG; Hcp, 4)

Marcos Riglos (ARG; Hcp 5)

Juan de Ezcurra (ARG; Hcp 5)

Team Star Design

Allegra Nasi (ITA; Hcp 0)

Nicolas Ruiz Guinazu (ARG; Hcp 3)

Aki Van Andel (NED; Hcp 3)

Olava Novaes (BRA; Hcp 8)

Team Gstaad Palace

Gualtiero Giori (ITA; Hcp 1)

Riccardo Tattoni (ITA; Hcp 0)

Eduardo Menendez (ARG; Hcp 7)

Santi Cernadas (ARG; Hcp 6)

Team Hublot

Daniel Aegerter (SUI; Hcp 0)

Francisco Fucci (ARG; Hcp 6)

Gonzalo Fucci (ARG; Hcp 6)

Salvatore Jauretche (ARG; Hcp 2)

Fixtures – Saturday 17 August 2013

Team Banque Baring Brothers Sturdza SA vs. Team Gstaad Palace

Team Hublot vx. Team Star Design

For a high resolution copyright free image, please click here.

For further information, please contact:

ComPeaR, Magali Dubois Vaucher

press@pologstaad.ch

Tel +41 78 608 03 23

Polo Club Gstaad

Marianna Nagyova

info@pologstaad.ch

Tel: +41 33 744 07 40 or visit: www.polo-gstaad.ch

Notes to editors:

The Polo Club of Gstaad was founded in 1995 and the first polo tournament was held in 1996.

In 2006 Pierre Genecand became President of both the Club and the Tournament. Hublot joined force in 2008.

In Polo handicap vary from -2 to +10 (10 being the highest level). Only a few Argentinian players have a 10 handicap

The tournament takes place on the Gstaad Saanen airport field. Free entrance.

Shops and Kinder Paradise will be open in the Official Village on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 11h onwards.

Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad – 15th-18th August 2013

Summer in Gstaad will be both sporty and glamorous with the 18th edition of this prestigious tournament.

D-3 and counting before the start of the traditional Hublot Polo Gold Cup in Gstaad. The organising Committee is working hard to make sure they welcome the polo players in the best conditions.

This year, some of the best players have been announced:

Olavo Novaes (BRA) hcp 8, Frankie Menendez (ARG) hcp 7, Francisco and Gonzalo Fucci (ARG) hcp 6, Santi Cernadas (ARG) hcp 6, Marcos Riglos (ARG) hcp 6 and Juan de Ezcurra (ARG) hcp 5.

The tournament will run over 4 days and will also offer many social events including cocktails and a gala night.

The polo grounds open on Thursday August 15th at 11h and matches will start at 13h30. The first match will enable teams to gauge themselves and the cohesion between their players. Each team totalling a 14 goal handicap requested by the rules of the tournament.

On Friday August 16th at 16h, all players and horses will parade through Gstaad, a spectacle not to be missed.

On Saturday August 17th, the Official Village will open at 11h and competitions will start at 13h30.

Once again, the Saturday night Gala in the VIP marquee will be the highlight of the event thanks to the performance of many artists, notably the talented Rob Spence.

The Final will take place on Sunday August 18th from 13h30.

Entrance is free to the public and the Kinder Paradise will ensure children are treated with the best animations (pony rides, inflatable castles, etc)

The best brands will be present in Gstaad such as the 4 Team Hublot, Sponsors Banque Baring Brothers Sturdza SA, Gstaad Palace & Star Design.

*************

Notes to editors :

• The Polo Club of Gstaad was founded in 1995 and the first polo tournament was held in 1996.
• In 2006 Pierre Genecand became President of both the Club and the Tournament. Hublot joined force in 2008.
• In Polo handicap vary from -2 to +10 (10 being the highest level). Only a few Argentinian players have a 10 handicap
• The tournament takes place on the Gstaad Saanen airport field. Free entrance.
• Shops and Kinder Paradise will be open in the Official Village on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 11h onwards.

For further information please contact:
ComPeaR, Magali Dubois Vaucher, press@pologstaad.ch Tel +41 78 608 03 23Polo Club Gstaad, Marianna Nagyova, info@pologstaad.ch Tel: +41 33 744 07 40 or visit: www.polo-gstaad.ch