The Australian-British team Cartier won the St. Moritz Snow Polo World Cup for the third time in a row. In the deciding match, Jonathan Munro Ford and his team gave Italian-German-Argentine Team BMW no chance and secured the hat-trick. More than 12,000 visitors made the tournament a huge public success. The new organizational team has made its debut.
With a 10:2 ½ kanter victory over Team BMW, Australian Jonathan Munro Ford and his team Cartier secured the third St. Moritz tournament win in a row. In the small final, the Swiss team Trois Pommes lost to the Irish-British team Badrutt's Palace Hotel and had to make do with the last place in the tournament.
Both games on the final day were exciting: On the hard ground, the teams gave themselves nothing and delivered exciting polo sports. The world's only “high goal” polo tournament on snow lived up to its reputation in 2015: Around 12,000 visitors watched six high-level snow polo matches from Friday to Sunday.
Even the losers left the pitch with a smile on their faces; they obviously enjoyed the game on Lake St. Moritz. The external conditions were very good on all three days of the tournament. Despite the vagaries of weather in December and January, it was possible to create an excellently prepared square.
“The local volunteers have once again done a great job,” summarized tournament promoter Reto Gaudenzi at the end. “For weeks, they worked proverbially day and night to provide the best conditions for the audience, players and ponies. For me, they are the real heroes of this weekend.”
“Once in your life, you have to play polo in St. Moritz,” Piki Diaz Alberdi had raved about snow even before his debut. The Argentinean veteran enjoyed the tournament, even though things didn't go particularly well for him with the Trois Pommes team. “The ambiance in St. Moritz is unique. I'll be back.”
Chris Hyde from the winning team Cartier, who scored five of the ten goals in the final, praised the high level of the tournament after the game. “The game against Badrutt's Palace was one of the best snow polo games I've ever played,” said the goalgetter of the now three-time winning team. “The course was superb, these are the best conditions I've ever played on.”
In its 31st year, the St. Moritz Snow Polo World Cup was once again the sporting and social highlight of the winter polo season. Visitors were offered first-class entertainment on and off the square. The stands were full on Saturday and Sunday and the audience loudly celebrated the playing teams.
Between polo fields, tents and stands, over 12,000 visitors enjoyed the unique mix of hospitality, a touch of luxury and sporting spectacle against the breathtaking backdrop of the Engadin mountain landscape.
The tournament in figures
- Final victory between Team Cartier and Team BMW: 10:2 ½
- round 12,000 visitors from Friday to Sunday
- 6 Snow Polo Matches at a high level
- 140 media professionals accredited
- 400 guests on Snow Polo Night at Badrutt's Palace Hotel
Supporting program and atmosphere
In between, photographers, journalists and camera teams from all parts of the world: 140 media professionals were accredited.
On Saturday evening, 400 guests met for Snow Polo Night at Badrutt's Palace Hotel. For the cocktail reception, Trois Pommes founder Trudie Götz presented an international fashion show, which, to the delight of the guests, was also attended by some of the younger polo players.
At the following gala dinner at the “Embassy” club, the players and partners of the tournament were honored once again. The polo family then partied in the “King's Club” until the early hours of the morning.
The old-new organizational team under Reto Gaudenzi can be satisfied with their debut: The tournament, catering, guest services and evening events worked smoothly and to the delight of the visitors thanks to the many experienced people. The relaxed and familiar atmosphere was very positively commented on.
“See you next year!” , Gaudenzi exclaimed at the end: The 32nd St. Moritz Snow Polo World Cup takes place from January 29 to 31, 2016 instead of.
Pictures of the St. Moritz Snow Polo World Cup can be downloaded free of charge
(for editorial use only)
- www.swiss-image.ch
User: snowpolo
Password: stmoritz - www.flickr.com/photos/snowpolostmoritz/