After a scorching summer, what a pleasure to rediscover green fields and fresh mountain air! The Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad got under way on Thursday in its spectacular Alpine setting, with Kielder Agro Group claiming the opening win over Albinati Aeronautics (11–8). Then, on his Gstaad debut, Gonzalito Pieres lived up to expectations, leading Hublot to victory over defending champions Gstaad Palace (8–5).
One hundred and twenty horses, sixteen players, four teams and, all around them, the mountains of the Saanenland. After weeks of playing on grounds often scorched yellow by an exceptionally hot and dry summer, the European polo community has found a welcome change of scenery. In Gstaad, the horses are back on lush green grass, the players are enjoying cooler air, while their families have the lakes and long walks in the Alps.
On the field, however, this is no holiday. In the opening match, Albinati Aeronautics caught Kielder Agro Group cold, taking a 3–1 lead after the first chukker. Kielder’s response was immediate: four goals in the second period put them 5–4 ahead at half-time. The margin remained narrow after the third chukker (7–6), before Juan Pepa and his teammates finally pulled clear in the last to seal an 11–8 victory.
Manuel Fernandez Llorente played a major role in the comeback, scoring six goals. But his Argentine counterpart Adrian Laplacette almost matched him shot for shot, also scoring six for Albinati. Between them, the two 6-goalers accounted for twelve of the nineteen goals scored in the opening match.
After the Battle, the Asado
Ask Juan Pepa to analyse the match, however, and the Kielder captain would rather smile.
“I can’t talk about tactics, I have no clue! What I can say is that the Meier brothers are wonderful people and very good friends. And for me, being able to play alongside my brother-in-law Antonio makes it a family affair. We were both just happy to be here.”
Antonio Manzano plays alongside Juan Pepa for Kielder, while Luca and Fabio Meier wear the colours of Albinati. Friends before they are opponents, they will all be back together just a few hours after battling it out on the field.
“I don’t know who deserved to win today or what exactly allowed us to win, but tonight we’re all going to share a beautiful asado together. That’s the atmosphere Pierre wants us to have here.”
Perhaps that says more about Gstaad than any long explanation could. The polo is played at a high level and everyone wants to win, but the tournament is also a late-summer interlude where players, families and friends spend a few days together in an extraordinary environment.
For Juan Pepa, it has even become a family tradition: “We come with the whole family. My wife Juana and I have two young children. We spend part of the summer in the south of France and, before the kids go back to school and I go back to the office to make some money, we love coming here for a week: the mountains, the green, the lakes, the long walks…and being around beautiful people.”
Debut in Gstaad and first victory for Gonzalo “Gonza” Pieres Jr., who scored five goals and put on a display of top-notch skill while playing for Hublot. © Pascal Renauldon – R&B Presse
Before sitting down to that much anticipated asado, however, there was still a second match to play. And not just any match: it marked the first appearance of the headline player of this year’s tournament, three-time Argentine Open winner Gonzalo Pieres Jr.
And “Gonza” did not disappoint. He scored five of Hublot’s eight goals, including two genuine golazos – one struck from almost midfield – as the Argentine played a major part in his team’s 8–5 victory over defending champions Gstaad Palace.
Hublot made a flying start to lead 3–0, only for Gstaad Palace to fight their way back to 5–5 at half-time. Pieres and his teammates then regained control and never relinquished it, giving the Argentine champion a winning start on his Gstaad debut.
For his first appearance here, the elder of the Pieres brothers had made sure he arrived well equipped: “I decided to come here with my best horses from England. I think I made the right choice, don’t you?”
And Gstaad itself already seems to have won him over: “A lot of great players have played this Gold Cup before me. I’d never had the opportunity to come to Gstaad, so I’m very happy to finally be here. My brother told me what a great time he had here last year, and now here I am! After such a dry summer, especially in Spain, it’s quite impressive to arrive here and see so much green. The air is good, the weather is nice… it makes you want to do things. It’s really exciting to be here.”
On Saturday, however, it will be back to business.
“Against Albinati, we’ll be facing some very good players. We need to focus on ourselves and play good polo. If we do that, we’ll have a chance.”
The public had already turned out in good numbers around the polo ground at Saanen Airport for Thursday’s opening day. Between top-level polo, reunions, families, and fresh mountain air, Gstaad immediately rediscovered the atmosphere that sets this tournament apart: on the field, everyone comes to win; beyond it, they also come to enjoy a week unlike any other.
After Friday’s team parade through the streets of Gstaad, competition resumes on Saturday, with Sunday’s final already firmly in everyone’s sights.
STATISTICS
TEAM KIELDER AGRO GROUP
Juan PEPA – IT, 2 (2 goals), Antonio MANZANO – ARG, 0 (1 goal), Manuel FERNANDEZ LLORENTE – ARG, 6 (6 goals) et Horacio FERNANDEZ LLORENTE – ARG, 6 (2 goals)
TEAM ALBINATI AERONAUTICS
Luca MEIER – CH, 1, Fabio MEIER – CH, 1 (1 goal), Adrian LAPLACETTE – ARG, 6 (6 goals) et Facundo RETAMAR – ARG, 6 (1 goal)
Progression Kielder : 1/3 – 5/4 – 7/6 et 11/8
TEAM HUBLOT
Rupert KNAUF – GER, 0, Gonzalo PIERES – ARG, 7 ( goals), Alfonso NERO – ARG, 1 (1 goal) et Bautista BEGUERIE – ARG, 6 (2 goals)
TEAM GSTAAD PALACE
Markus GRAEFF – CH, 0, Thommy GRAEFF – CH, 3 (1 goal), Santiago LOZA – ARG, 7 (1 goal) et Facundo KELLY – ARG, 4 (3 goals)
Progression Hublot : 3/0 – 5/5 – 7/5 et 8/5