Cartier Wins The First Cartier International China Polo Challenge
14th October 2012
The Cartier team, patroned by Shilai Liu and Adriano Agosti, captured the inaugural Cartier International China Polo Challenge Trophy at Tang Polo Club, Beijing today. However the home side did not have it all its own way and when Tang’s Horacio Etcheverry levelled the scores, 6-6, at the end of the third, it was still unclear which team would come out on top. Cartier pulled away in the fourth though, including goals from the La Martina Most Valuable Player Juan Jose (JJ) Brane, and went on to win the game 8-6.
So it was a hugely delighted Shilai Liu who received the impressive Cartier Trophy from Nigel Luk, Regional Managing Director of Cartier North Asia Josephine Chien, Managing Director of Cartier China. However Shilai was quick to call up his team-mates to share this historic moment of glory – the perfect finish to the first Cartier polo event in Beijing. Tang Polo team’s Horacio Etcheverry, the six-goal Argentine who has been based at Tang Polo Club for the past few weeks, was delighted to receive the La Martina Best Playing Pony Award for Dancing.
The subsidiary final, for the Tang Trophy, went to Equus & Co. They defeated Dorchester Collection 10 – 7 in a fast paced game played in front of the impressive Cartier marquee. Many of the title sponsor’s VIPs were watching polo for the first time and this match was the perfect introduction to the sport of kings. Aron Harilela and Alex Brodie received the trophy and were cheered on by their sponsors Jim Whisenand and Maria Lorenzo.
Oliver Hipwood of the Equus team received the La Martina Best Playing Pony rug from Cartier’s Josephine Chien and Florencia Cavalieri of La Martina. This was for Selma whom Oliver had played in the fourth chukka. Dorchester Collection’s Jack Richardson had an early birthday present – he will be 21 on Monday – when he was named Most Valuable Player in the Tang Trophy. He received a beautiful pair of La Martina kneepads. As Jack is about to head to Australia, the USA and New Zealand this winter they will certainly be much needed.
Once more Cartier brought its iconic style and elegance to this new polo event here in Beijing. Following Sunday’s success the Cartier International China Polo Challenge is now firmly established as part of the hugely successful collection of international Cartier polo events around the globe which includes the Cartier Queen’s Cup at Guards Polo Club, UK, and the Cartier International China Polo Challenge in Dubai, UAE.
Cartier: Shilai Liu (0); Adriano Agosti (1); Juan Jose Brane (7); Ramiro Garcia Dagna (4)
Tang Polo: Nan Liu (0); Top Raksriaksorn (0); Horacio Etcheverry (6); Lucas Lujan (4)
Equus & Co: Aron Harilela (1); Alex Brodie (1); Oliver Hipwood (5); Roddy Matthews (3)
Dorchester Collection: Jonathan Munro Ford (-1); Kim Richardson (1); Chris Hyde (6); Jack Richardson (4)