The 5th International Slovakia Polo Open 2011
Last weekend the 5th International Slovakia Polo Open took place at the manor park Schloss Ebreischdorf. 6 teams with 7-8 handicaps competed at 4 Austrian fields, located just 70 km from Bratislava. These handicaps gave the event a special glance of the top handicap tournament in Central Europe, comparable only to Austrian Open. J&T Bank enjoyed the overall triumph after dramatic finale when it defeated the Bollinger team 6:5 in the overtime. The I. Polo Klub Bratislava 1888 Award for the third place was received by BMW team after a close victory (9:8)over Sheron team. Delta Defence defeated Allen&Overy team and earned the 5th place, awarded by Polo Club Schloss Ebreichsdorf Award.
“The tournament turned out excellently and I am very much satisfied with its course. The weather was great, so the whole planned program could proceed without any time extensions. We are grateful for no serious injuries of players or horses, which is a very important success factor of the whole event,” said tournament organizer Peter Godányi, who is also the President of I. Polo Klub Bratislava 1888 and Secretary General of Slovak Polo Association. He continued:” Individual matches were closely watched also by the seven members of handicap commissions ( two from Slovakia, four from Austria and one representative of International Polo Association), who assessed the players´ acquired handicaps that are every year either increased or decreased.”
The team representing J&T Bank became the fifth in a row whose name will be engraved on the touring trophy for the winner of the International Slovakia Polo Open. It is made of antique silver and was dedicated to Bratislava Polo Club by partner Hurlingham Polo Club from Buenos Aires on the occasion of 115th anniversary of its establishment.
“The best player of tournament” title – in competition with polo players from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary, Russia, Argentina and Slovakia (host country was represented by Peter Godányi and Martin Magál from I. Polo Club Bratislava 1888) – was taken by Argentinean player Joaquin Maiquez from defeated finalist team Bollinger. “The best polo pony” was eight year old Quito, the horse of another Argentinean, Bautista Bayugar, who bought him two years ago from his countryman Bartolomé Castagnola, member of one of the two best teams in the world, La Dolfina. Every player brought 4 to 7 horses to the competition. They were mostly from Argentina and some were also from Great Britain.
Interestingly, Quito’s owner, Bautista Bayugar from J&T Bank team, was at the age 14 the youngest participant of the event and his excellent performances were topped also by victorious goal scored despite the Friday’s stick hit straight to the teeth. This was the only injury of the tournament. The oldest participant wore the jersey with Allen&Overy. Horacio Llorente comes from Argentina and is 55 years old. The only woman at the tournament was only 15 year old Russian, Polina Nazarovova, who filled in for Bollinger team on Saturday.
Final day in beautiful manor area in Ebreichsdorf was marked by amazing atmosphere. Besides thrilling matches, there were also the contests for the most beautiful hat, cutest puppy or best hit by polo stick. A very unique attraction was also a traditional lawn trampling during the breaks between the matches. The kids and ladies from the audience could help straighten the lawn in the field and show off their beautiful hats and four legged friends. The little spectators enjoyed various attractions, letting their parents to watch the tournament. Music group Funny Fellows entertained the guests and there was also the original Argentinean polo pony auction. His new owner paid 10 500 Euro while the raised money will be used by I. Polo Club Bratislava 1888 for club lawn reconstruction and old veteran horse care.
POLO SLOVAKIA OPEN 2011 Awards:
Touring trophy POLO SLOVAKIA OPEN – J&T Bank team
I. Polo Club Bratislava 1888 Award for the third place winner – BMW team
Polo Club Schloss Ebreichsdorf Award for the fifth place winner – Delta Defence team
Placement: 1. place J&T Bank
2. place Bollinger
3. place BMW
4. place Sheron
5. place Delta Defence
6. place Allen & Overy
Best player of the tournament: Joaquin Maiquez HCP 5 – ARG – Bollinger team
Best POLO PONY of the tournament: 8-year old polo pony QUITO of player Bautista Bayugar – J&T Bank team
Youngest player of the tournament: Bautista Bayugar HCP 2 – ARG –J&T Bank team, 14 years old
Oldest player of the tournament: Horacio Llorente HCP 4 – ARG – 55years old – Allen & Overy team
Sole woman at the tournament: Polina Nazarova HCP 0 – RUS – Bollinger team – 15 years old
The top event for lovers of this noble horse sport was organized by I. Polo Club Bratislava 1888 and Slovak Polo Association (SPA) under the auspices of the International Polo Association (FIP). The top English referee Henry Stevens from English Polo Association (HPA) oversaw smooth course of the matches.
The host of the event was baron Richard Drasche-Wartinberg, the owner of the Schloss Ebreichsdorf, whose grandfather had established polo club Reit –und Polo Klub Wien in 1910. Following his tradition, baron Drashe-Wartinberg established Polo Club Schloss Ebreichsdorf in 1991. The top maintained fields in Schloss Ebreichsdorf that meet all FIP standards are the oldest and the best within approximately thousand kilometers from Slovakia and they even hosted European Championship last year.