Global Imports BMW: US-Sweden Polo Invitational

US-Sweden Polo Invitational


The Scuppernong Polo Club hosted the second annual, USPA sanctioned, “Global Imports BMW: US-Sweden Polo Invitational” on October 15 and 17, 2010 at Chukkar Farm, near Atlanta, GA.  The 2010 Invitational marked the first time that a Swedish polo team had played in the US and was an important part of the silver jubilee festivities of Chukkar Farm, celebrating 25 years of teaching Atlanta how to play polo.

 

The tournament was divided into two days of play with six Chukkars on each day.  The Swedish team was represented by members of the Almare Stäket Polo Country Club and the Stockholm Polo Club.  The American team was represented by members of the Scuppernong Polo Club.  The ultimate score in the tournament finale was 6-4 in favor of the Americans, but it was a close contest with evenly matched teams.

 

JW Nystrom presented the “Mare Pons Cup” to the Americans, a donation by the Nystrom Family who played an integral role in laying the predicate for the Invitational.  The MVP award of Estancia Polo Saddle provided by Sam’s Polo went to Viktor Folcker of the Swedish team for his outstanding efforts.  Event organizers included Jim Campbell, Geoff Conroy, David Kaplan, and Cara Tadsen (all members of the Scuppernong Polo Club).  Jack Cashin, owner of Chukkar Farm, served as the master of ceremonies.

 

Other sponsors of the 2010 Invitational included: Air France-KLM, Absolut Vodka, Bear Creek Hounds, Global Imports BMW, Harshman Philips, the London Trading Company, Phillips Partnership, the Ritz Carlton Buckhead, Southern Proper, the St Regis Atlanta, the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce, and Westtree Financial.  Photographs were provided by Susan Elizabeth Talbot.

 

In addition to the polo tournament, the Americans organized for the Swedes a thanksgiving-style dinner at Chukkar Farm, a polo & hunt reception at the St Regis Atlanta, a fox hunt with Bear Creek Hounds, and a quail shoot at Barnsley Gardens. 

 

All participants in the weekend had tons of fun, made lots of new friends, and agreed to meet next year at the third annual US-Sweden Polo Invitational to be held in Stockholm.