St. Moritz pays tribute to its polo players
Four top teams totalling players from seven nations will be competing for the Cartier Trophy at the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2015 from 30 January through 1 February next year. On Friday, the new organisers presented the teams and the event’s programme. The world’s only high-goal snow polo tournament wants to resume the success of the early years both as a sporting and a social event.
50 days before the start of the Snow Polo World Cup 2015, St. Moritz is paying tribute to its polo players with the opening of the «Polo Bar»; the new bar was opened in the restaurant Cascade in the presence of all active and former polo players from the Engadin Valley. «The Cascade is like a good polo tournament: it has always been a place where locals and visitors met,» enthused Reto Gaudenzi, the tournament’s organiser. «At Reto Mathis’, a good meal and a good party are guaranteed—there is no better place for polo aficionados to meet all year round.»
The 31st snow polo tournament on the lake of St. Moritz promises to be outstanding not just as a social occasion but also in sporting terms: 8 of 16 players have a handicap of 6 or higher; the team handicaps range from 14 to 16. The tournament will be opened by the previous year’s winner Jonathan Munro Ford (0/AUS) and his Team Cartier (team handicap 16) on Friday 30 January. He is aiming for the hat-trick. Having won the tournaments in 2013 and 2014, he is looking to score the third win in a row with his former team colleagues Max Charlton (7/GBR) and Chris Hyde (6/GBR) as well as new teammate Jamie Morrison (3/GBR).
In their first match, they will be facing Team Trois Pommes (team handicap 14) lead by Thomas «Tutti» Wolfensberger (1/SUI). The other players on the team are Cédric Schweri (0/SUI), Pepe Riglos (6/ARG) and tournament old-timer Piki Diaz Alberdi (7/ARG). In Friday’s second match, Team BMW (team handicap 15)—with Rommy Gianni (1/ITA), Paolo Netzsch (1/GER), Dario Musso (7/ARG), and Lucas Labat (6/ARG)—will be playing Team Badrutt’s
Palace Hotel (team handicap 16)—with Richard Fagan (1/IRL), Max Hutchinson (3/GBR), Richard Le Poer Beresford (6/GBR), and James Harper (6/GBR).
In Saturday’s Etihad Cup at 12 noon, Team Badrutt’s Palace Hotel will face Team Cartier. At 2:15 PM, Team Trois Pommes and Team BMW will be battling it out for the Kempinski Trophy. The small final for 3rd place and the La Martina Cup will take place on Sunday at 12 noon, and at 2:15 PM, in the Finals, the teams will be competing for the legendary Cartier Trophy, the most coveted trophy in snow polo.
The Snow Polo Night at the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel will take centre stage on Saturday night, with a fashion show by Trois Pommes and the Snow Polo Gala at the Embassy Club that is already sold out. The Pepe Lienhard Big Band and two surprise musical acts from the US are among those performing.
At the same time as presenting the teams and the programme, the organisers have also launched their new website www.snowpolo-stmoritz.com. The website, built in a responsive design for mobile devices, will provide detailed information ahead of the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz and cover the event itself.
Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2015: Teams
Team Cartier 16
1 Jonathan Munro Ford 0 AUS TC
2 Max Charlton 7 GBR
3 Chris Hyde 6 GBR
4 Jamie Morrison 3 GBR
Team Trois Pommes 14
1 Tutti Wolfensberger 1 SUI TC
2 Cédric Schweri 0 SUI
3 Pepe Riglos 6 ARG
4 Piki Diaz Alberdi 7 ARG
Team BMW 15
1 Rommy Gianni 1 ITA TC
2 Paolo Netzsch 1 GER
3 Dario Musso 7 ARG
4 Lucas Labat 6 ARG
Team Badrutt’s Palace Hotel 16
1 Richard Fagan 1 IRL TC
2 Max Hutchinson 3 GBR
3 Richard Le Poer Beresford 6 GBR
4 James Harper 6 GBR
Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2015: Programme
Friday: January 30, 2015
10.30h Press conference (to be announced)
11.00h Polo village and VIP tent open Lake of St. Moritz
(limited number of VIP tickets available)
12.00h CARTIER – TROIS POMMES
14.15h BMW – BADRUTT’S PALACE HOTEL
15.15h Prize-giving ceremony
16.30h Polo village and VIP tent close
Saturday: January 31, 2015
11.00h Polo village and VIP tent open Lake of St. Moritz
(limited number of VIP tickets available)
12.00h BADRUTT’S PALACE HOTEL – CARTIER Etihad Cup
14.15h TROIS POMMES – BMW Kempinski Trophy
15.15h Prize-giving ceremony
16.30h Polo village and VIP tent close
18.30h Cocktail Reception and Fashion Show Lobby
by Trois Pommes (black tie) Badrutt’s Palace Hotel
19.30h The Snow Polo Night Embassy
Gala Dinner Badrutt’s Palace Hotel
23.00h Polo Rocks the Palace King’s Club
(open end) Badrutt’s Palace Hotel
Sunday: February 1, 2015
11.00h Polo village and VIP tent open Lake of St. Moritz
(limited number of VIP tickets available)
12.00h Finals 3rd place La Martina Cup
14.15h Finals Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz The CARTIER TROPHY
15.15h Prize-giving ceremony
17.00h Polo village and VIP tent close for 2015
18.00h Farewell Party Polo Bar at
(open end – by invitation only) Cascade Restaurant