Team Abu Dhabi Claim Victory at MINT Polo in the Park 2011
Mohammed Al Habtoor, Andrea Vianini and Piki Diaz Alberdi Steal the Show
Back for its third year, Hurlingham Park once again thundered with the hooves of world class polo players for MINT Polo in the Park 2011. Over 29,000 people packed the stands at the inaugural three-day event, to cheer on the six international teams who took part in this year’s tournament.
The event kicked off on Friday June 3rd, as many city workers found an excuse to leave the office early and enjoy an afternoon of world-class polo. Otkritie Team Moscow and IG Index Team Sydney opened the tournament, with a fantastic display of horsemanship, leaving Otkritie Team Moscow with a 12-9 win. Next up, last years champions City A.M. Team New York took on newcomers to the tournament, Team Abu Dhabi. In this fast-paced match, Team Abu Dhabi’s captain, Mohammad Al Habtoor instantly took to the reins as he delivered a number of high-octane goals in front of the screaming London crowd. Team Abu Dhabi continued to display a strong performance throughout the match and thrashed the defending champions with an impressive 10 goals to 5. Finally, in the highly anticipated grudge match between MINT Team London and Gaucho Team Buenos Aires, the Argentinians certainly gave the home team a run for their money. Captain, Oscar Mancini dominated the match, helping his Gaucho Team Buenos Aires teammates to secure a 10-4 win.
On Saturday June 4th, Hurlingham Park was transformed into a bustling and colourful landscape to mark MINT Polo in the Park’s Ladies Day. In the first game of the afternoon, Team Abu Dhabi instantly took the lead. Storming along the pitch, Mohammed Al Habtoor and Piki Diaz Alberdi played perfectly together, which helped secure Team Abu Dhabi’s second win of the tournament by beating Otkritie Team Moscow 12-8. Next, City A.M. Team New York went head-to-head with Gaucho Team Buenos Aires for one of the most memorable matches of the whole weekend. As both teams were furiously battling it out, an unfortunate collision saw Lucas Talemoni stretchered off the pitch. The match continued with replacement Adolfo Casabal. However this was not enough to secure the win as City A.M. Team New York scored just moments before the final whistle, leaving the final score 11-10.
The big finale took place on Sunday June 5th for the MINT Polo in the Park Finals Day. Despite the weather taking a turn, a sea of umbrellas transformed the grandstand as families and children spurred on the jockeys taking part in the Shetland Pony Derby Grand National.
For the opening match of the afternoon, defending champions City A.M. Team New York were up against Otkritie Team Moscow to compete for the Camino Real Plate Trophy. In this close match, both teams were neck-and-neck until the final chukka where the scores locked at 9-9, leaving a penalty shootout to determine the winner. In this tense showdown, the crowds were on tender hooks as both Ed Hitchman and Henry Brett successfully made the score 10-10. However, it was Otkritie Team Moscow’s youngest player Tom Morley’s shot, which went wide, leaving City A.M. Team New York with the Camino Real Plate.
In the final match of the tournament, the competition became fierce as Team Abu Dhabi battled it out against Gaucho Team Buenos Aires in a sensational final. The crowd erupted as Team Abu Dhabi took an early lead with Piki Diaz Alberdi scoring two points with a fantastic backhander. Gaucho Team Buenos Aires were determined to fight back and Oscar Mancini managed to slip a much-needed goal into the back of the net. However, Team Abu Dhabi’s Mohammed Al Habtoor was at the top of his game, scoring some sensational goals throughout the match. By the final whistle, Team Abu Dhabi had clinched the title winning the game by 8 goals to 5 and they were crowned the winners of the MINT Polo in the Park Trophy.
Throughout the weekend, a number of celebrities including Matthew Morrison, Lord Coe and the Made in Chelsea cast, dropped by to enjoy the polo and soak-up the bustling atmosphere which was on offer. Guests looking to embrace the ultimate polo experience also made the most of the weekend thanks to The Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar and Guy Ritchie’s Punchbowl Pub. Fans of Harrods fine food were not disappointed as the iconic store opened it’s first ever pop-up food court, just meters away from the action.