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TA L K
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Pablo Mac Donough, Juan Martín Nero,
Pelon Stirling and Bautista Heguy saddled
up to support the cause.
When the final came around it was
a fast-paced affair, and in the end, Balanz
Capital were able to snatch the 9-7 win. In
usual Thai Polo fashion, a fantastic party
marked the end of the first competition –
the fun had just begun.
The fifth edition of the Thai Polo Cup
followed, as eight 14-goal teams united
in the name of fast, friendly polo. The
tournament, first played in 2014, has grown
stupendously over the years, both in terms of
logistics and performance on the field. After
two weeks of play, the final was set between
By Jai and Las Tapias. Gracing the field
for By Jai was 15-year-old Mackenzie Weisz,
who proved to be unstoppable in attack, and
11-year-old Cruz Marchini.
Guided by Chilean Jaime García
Huidobro and Colombian Juancho Uribe, two
highly experienced players, By Jai was able
to win the final and take the Thai Polo title.
It was also special to see Agustin and Juan
Martín Nero lead a wonderful chukka
between six- and seven-year-old children,
including Juan Martín’s own son, Lorenzo.
The tournament concluded with a grand
party, with live music, a DJ set and fireworks,
all in true Thai Polo style.
The third tournament to wear Thai Polo’s
badge of honour was the annual Tanoira Cup,
played in memory of the great Gonzalo
Tanoira. A dozen 12-goal teams lined up
to compete in the tournament hosted by
the Tanoira family at Cuatro Vientos, their
100-hectare club in Pilar. Ten days of
entertaining polo ensued, with Chateau
d’Aulne taking the trophy after defeating
Altamira in the final. The event ended with
a touching speech by Gonzalo’s youngest son
Santiago, who thanked players and friends
for gathering to remember his father in the
best possible way.
Franck Dubarry was entrusted to finish
the series with flair, with the seventh edition
of his Technopolo Cup. The tournament was
extremely competitive, and several of the 10
12-goal teams had a strong shot at winning
the title. After a well-fought tournament,
Alejandro Metro’s La Trinidad came out as
champions for the second year in a row. The
late Jorge Mac Donough was honoured, as
was Yvan Guillemin, an important member
of the French Federation of Polo and
Dubarry’s polo professor.
Opposite:
Harold Link and
some future stars with
Augustin (left) and Juan
Martín Nero (right).
Below:
By Jai’s Jaime
Garcia Huidobro and
Cruz Marchini celebrate
Each of the four tournaments shone for
fair play, intensity and family-oriented
atmosphere. As promised, Thai Polo
delivered a season full of fireworks, on both
sides of the board. ‘We try to export Thai
hospitality and mix it with Argentine charm,’
says Thai Polo founder Harald Link. ‘It seems
that all players like our tournaments, and
then other venues asked Thai Polo and
Minuto Siete to do the same with them. We
are very happy to do that and are sure that
later everyone who wants to implement this
method can do it very well. There is no secret
sauce, except for the wish for others to be
happy. At Thai Polo we think that friendship
and the joy of the game is most important.’
