Australia’s only beach polo tournament is a family affair when it comes to sponsorship, with pearling’s Paspaley family and brewing’s Cooper family taking prime position on the sand when Pinctada Cable Beach Polo 2013 is played next month.
Marilynne Paspaley AM, Director of the Pinctada Cable Beach Polo Festival, today confirmed sponsorship of key elements of the tournament, which will be played on the weekend of May 18-19 on Broome’s Cable Beach in the Kimberley region of northwest Australia.
Stephanie Buckland, CEO of Tourism WA, believes the sponsorship announcements add to the excitement that is building for the event.
“The 2013 Pinctada Cable Beach Polo Festival is shaping up as a world class event and I encourage the people of Broome, the Kimberley region and Western Australia as a whole to get behind it,” Ms Buckland says. “This unique event and its many elements are a perfect fit for Broome’s internationally famous Cable Beach.”
The Commonwealth Bank Kimberley Challenge, which will see young Indigenous stockmen team up with leading polo players, is the showcase match on Saturday May 18 when Coopers, the official beer sponsor for the tournament, will transform the ticketed VIP marquee into the Coopers 1862 Kimberley Lounge.
Paspaley pearls is Match Title Sponsor of one of the key elements of the event, the Paspaley International Beach Polo Cup, which will see a team of leading Indian players take on the home side on Sunday May 19.
Coopers Chairman Glenn Cooper sees Pinctada Cable Beach Polo as an ideal fit for the ales that five generations of his family have been brewing in South Australia since 1862.
“The Kimberley coast, one of Australia’s natural wonders, is an ideal backdrop to showcase our beers which are truly Australian and all natural with no preservatives or additives,” Glenn says. “We are now the nation’s only Australian-owned major brewery so it’s also a good fit to hook up with Australia’s only beach polo tournament.”
Tickets are available at cablebeachpolo.com.au to join players in the Coopers 1862 Kimberley Lounge which will also feature Kronenbourg 1664, a French premium lager that Coopers has been distributing in Australia since July last year.
“Kronenbourg 1664 is popular in international polo circles but still relatively undiscovered in Australia,” Glenn says. “The Kimberley is a world famous destination for adventure and discovery and we also see it as a perfect opportunity for people to explore the finest beer France has to offer in Kronenbourg 1664.”
Marilynne Paspaley’s Pinctada Hotels & Resorts, a venture that is independent of her family’s pearling interests, is the event title sponsor and underwriter while its flagship property, Pinctada Cable Beach, is the tournament’s official hotel.
“Pinctada Cable Beach Polo is an inclusive event and the beach polo action is free to watch picnic-style from the sand or spectators also have the option to purchase tickets to the VIP Marquees,” Marilynne says. “Each day of the tournament has a different theme – Saturday is the more casual ‘Australian beach day’ and this theme will be embraced when the marquee is transformed to the Coopers 1862 Kimberley Lounge. To reflect the glamour and excitement of the international clash on the Sunday, the marquee will be more akin to Melbourne’s Spring racing carnival Birdcage with a ‘barefoot elegance’ dress code.”
Tickets to the Coopers 1862 Kimberley Lounge on Saturday 18 May include sumptuous cuisine by Broome restaurant, The Aarlie, a fine selection of beers by Coopers as well as Kronenbourg 1664, and a selection of Bunnamagoo wines and Belvedere cocktails. Tickets to the Pinctada Cable Beach Polo VIP Marquee on Sunday May 19 include catering by Pinctada Cable Beach’s award-winning Selene Brasserie and a fine selection of beverages, including Veuve Clicquot champagne, Coopers beers and Belvedere cocktails, which will be served throughout the afternoon. A Weekend Marquee Ticket is also available.
In addition to the Coopers 1862 Kimberley Lounge on Saturday May 18, an alcohol-free family marquee, sponsored by the Shinju Motor Group, has been created in support of the Isolated Children’s Parents Association.
“This is a terrific opportunity for families from remote regions in the Kimberley, as well as Broome local families, to experience the beach polo and cheer on the young Indigenous stockmen who will be teaming up with the captains of the Australian and Indian teams in the Commonwealth Bank Kimberley Challenge,” Marilynne says. “We want to ensure Kimberley families have the opportunity to enjoy the comfort of the marquee at a family price.”
Other sponsors for Pinctada Cable Beach Polo 2013 include Commonwealth Bank, Broome International Airport, West Australian Regional Newspapers, Hutchinson Real Estate, H&M Tracey Construction, Boulevard Shopping Centre, Catalina Adventures and GPG Group. Veuve Clicquot is the event’s champagne partner and Bunnamagoo is the exclusive wine sponsor. Bali Hai, Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa and Seashells Broome are supporting accommodation partners while Shinju Motor Group is the official Vehicle Provider.
“I am truly delighted with the sponsorship mix for Pinctada Cable Beach Polo 2013,” Marilynne says. “The global brands reflect the international flavour of the event, the national brands embrace the innovation of Australia’s only beach polo tournament and the local sponsors reflect the strong support of the Broome and wider Kimberley community for the event. All our sponsors see the opportunity for Pinctada Cable Beach Polo to grow and become a hallmark event on the Australian tourism calendar and I thank each of them for their support.”
Ms Paspaley also acknowledged Tourism WA and Australia’s Northwest Tourism for their significant support of the event.
“Tourism WA is pleased to be able to help market and promote the festival,” Stephanie Buckland says. “Congratulations to Marilynne and her team, and we wish the competitors, sponsors and spectators a successful, safe and enjoyable event.”