Polo arrives
in Denmark
Denmark held its first ever polo
tournament on 22 and 23 June 2013 – The inaugural Copenhagen Polo Open featured
4 teams from Copenhagen, London, Oslo and Stockholm. Main sponsor was Maserati
with Shamballa Jewels, Rossini Caviar and Care Service as team sponsors. Other
event partners / sponsors included Formuepleje Private Banking, Parmigiani
watches as official timekeeping sponsor, La Martina as official clothing and
equipment suppliers, e3light and Hildon water. The event had 5,000 spectators
over the two days including 300 per day in the VIP area.
Matches were played 3 aside and on a
slightly smaller pitch providing a more close-to-the-action experience for
spectators
The VIPs enjoyed a Veuve Cliquot champagne
reception with Rossini caviar canapes followed by lunch by Copenhagen’s leading
restaurants Mash and Umami which was then followed by a dessert by Michelin
starred chef Jakob de Neergaard and in the afternoon English afternoon tea and
cupcakes by Agnes Cupcakes. His Royal Highness Prince Joachim and Princess
Marie joined a selection of Scandinavian and International celebrities in the
VIP marquee including Spain’s Princess Tamara Czartoryski, tennis ace Frederik
Fetterlein, handball star Hans Lindberg, pop star Saseline, TV star Thomas Skov
and celebrity hairdresser to the stars Dennis Knudsen as well as Europe’s
premier concierge host Ivan Nygaard Rosenschein to name a few.
The first day saw the event opened
by the Mayor of Copenhagen – Anna Mee Allerslev who gave her wholehearted
support for the event, which is seen as a great event for not just Copenhagen
but for Denmark. This was followed by the matches. The first match between Care
Service Team Oslo and Maserati team Copenhagen gave the Danes a great first
ever polo match on Danish soil. Maserati team Copenhagen were that bit higher
handicapped and more experienced and by half time the lead was 2 goals, a lead
which they extended to 3 goals by the end of the match securing them a place in
Sundays finals.
The second match on the Saturday saw
Rossini Caviar Team Stockholm meet Shamballa Jewels Team London in a much
faster paced match which at times looked far higher handicapped than 10 goals.
Powerful and impressive plays by Rossini Caviar’s Santiago Shanahan kept the
audience very engaged with fast open plays. By half time Shamballa Jewels team
London were trailing by a goal and the match looked like it was going to go in
favour of Rossini Caviar. However, Shamballa Jewels team London came out with a
different plan of action for the second half with beautiful open plays and
consistent, accurate passing between all 3 players to win by a goal in what was
definitely a thrilling match. This match was followed by a celebrity polo match
featuring 2 Danish TV stars – Thomas Skov and Knaldperlen.
Finals day saw the subsidiary final
played first where Care Service Team Oslo met Rossini Caviar Team Stockholm in
a lovely open match that once again thrilled and engaged the crowds with
Rossini Caviar Team Stockholm winning by 3 goals. Final score Rossini Caviar 8
/ Care Service 5.
The main final was the big event of
the weekend and saw maximum crowds. Teams were led out onto the pitch by 2
Maseratis in a presentation worthy of any great international polo event. Both
Maserati and Shamballa looked strong in the opening chukka retaining neck and
neck scores up to half time. The teams looked very even and it looked hard to
judge which way it could go. Into the second half, great open plays by captains
either side, Ryan Pemble and Ross Ainslie and continued equal goal scoring with
one goal being answered by another retained an even score into the final
chukka. The final chukka saw the paced stepped up and great teamwork by both
Pemble and Lodder, ably assisted by Leah Hamdan. A foul by Shamballa Jewels in
front of their goal saw Ryan Pemble convert a penalty in the last 15 seconds of
the match to win by a goal. Final score : Maserati 9 / Shamballa Jewels 8.