Guards Polo Club team wins first Guards International Sao Paulo Polo Trophy
20 September 2014 Helvetia Polo Club Indaiatuba Brazil
By Diana Butler
Guards Polo Club’s own polo team put up a strong performance in testing conditions to win the first running of the Guards International Sao Paulo Polo Trophy at Helvetia Polo Club, Indaiatuba, Brazil. In weather more suited to a spring afternoon at Guards Polo Club – showery rain – the Guards team headed up by 17-year-old Charlie Pidgley, defeated Alex Brodie’s EFG Bank squad 9-7. The winners were the only side to come into this final unbeaten and were delighted to retain their form.
Not surprisingly Guards team player Igor Pinheiro was named Most Valuable Player in this final as he scored several of this team’s goals and also worked well alongside his brother Noberto, who was making his debut in this tournament. EFG Bank’’s Francisco Marcos Junqueira Netto, “Chicoâ€, was named highest scoring player in the tournament. His mare Xamata also received the La Martina Best Playing Pony Blanket.
Unfortunately the bad weather forced the cancellation of the subsidiary final between Yaguara and Eitan Koren’s TeleAtlantic. However Yaguara patron, Grant Mayer who had flown in from the USA especially for this competition was quite upbeat. “We have had a brilliant week – our Brazilian hosts have been fantastic and I am just delighted to have been a part of such a great event.â€
Before the main prize presentations took place, Jose Eduardo de Souza Aranha, who had played for the EFG Bank team, spoke on behalf of all the Brazilian players: “I believe that we have sent a message to the polo world that is it still possible to play polo with friends. I hope that we will definitely see you all both in the UK and here in Brazil next year.â€
Neil Hobday, CEO of Guards also spoke of friendship in his welcoming speech: “There are no strangers in the sport of polo, only friends that we have not yet met, and we have certainly made many friends here in Brazil this week, especially Alberto Bastos and Roberto de Souza Aranha and their families. Everyone’s generosity and hospitality to our players and my team from Guards Polo Club has been unparalleled.â€
Keith Gapp, Strategic Director of EFG Bank and sponsor of a team here in Sao Paulo, flew in especially for the final, finding time in a frantic schedule to watch his team play. Other sponsors included La Martina who have added the Guards International Sao Paulo Polo Trophy to their list of official shirt events. Yaguara, the creators of one of Brazil’s finest spirits, Cachaca (Pinga), not only sponsored a team, but also took over the Helvetia Clubhouse to make sure that the post-match party went with a swing.
The hallmark of Guards Polo Club’s overseas events is that they successfully blend the Club’s own unique mix of pageantry and elegance with the host country’s own traditions. Warm hospitality and fast and flowing polo on great grounds, are Brazil’s trademarks and players and spectators at Helvetia Polo Club have experienced plenty of both this week.
Guards International Sao Paulo Polo Trophy
Guards Polo Club: Charlie Pidgley (0); Igor Pinheiro (3); Rafael Villela Rosa (6); Noberto Pinheiro (4)
EFG Bank: Alex Brodie (1); Jose Eduardo de Souza Aranha (2); Francisco Marcos Junqueira Netto (4); Luiz Paulo Martins Bastos (6)
Guards Polo Club Trophy (Sub Final)
Yaguara: Grant Mayer (1); Roberto Egydio de Souza Aranha (3); Carlos Francisco Martins Bastos (4); Goncalo Matarrazo (5)
TeleAtlantic: Eitan Koren (0); Joao Gaspar Martins Bastos (5); Guilherme Lins (5); Wolff Klabin (2).