Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2013
Hong Kong, China and England to go Forward, New Zealand and Chile Knocked Out
12 teams from around the world vie for the world championship
at Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club from Jan 25 – Feb 3
(Tianjin, China, January 30, 2013) – The Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2013 (“Snow Polo World Cup”) continued into the fifth day at Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club (“Metropolitan Polo Club”). Snow Polo World Cup is one of the major events on the world polo calendar, and is the largest snow polo tournament in the world. This is the second year running that Metropolitan Polo Club, the largest polo facility in China, has been chosen as the venue of this prestigious event. The tournament is hosted by the Equestrian Association of China and the Federation of International Polo (FIP), and is organized by the Tianjin Sports Bureau, the Hong Kong Polo Development and Promotion Federation (HKPDPF) and the Tianjin Polo Association, with support from various sponsors.
Twelve teams have been participating in this year’s tournament with handicaps ranging from 14 to 16 goals, making this the world’s premier snow polo event. The teams, selected in cooperation with the Federation of International Polo, represent 9 out of the top 10 polo countries. Countries represented are: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, England, France, Hong Kong China, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA. Eight of these teams passed through the qualifying rounds into the 2-day Quarter Finals. 2/7
Today saw the beginning of the Quarter Finals, in which each of the 8 teams are given one chance at moving forward to the Semi-Finals. Whereas the qualifying rounds were played as 3-chukka matches, each match is now played over 4-chukkas, increasing the stress, and requiring higher levels of endurance from the teams. At the beginning of the day there was strong consensus among players and team managers that the level of play so far has been outstanding, with each of the remaining teams having their own respective strengths. This, together with the unpredictable nature of snow polo, leaves the tournament open for any team to win. New Zealand player John Paul Clarkin, veteran of St. Moritz snow polo, stated at the opening of the day, “there are so many world-class players here in Tianjin, and in snow polo the match can change very quickly, we will play our best, and see who will win”.
The day began with New Zealand facing off against last year’s Snow Polo World Cup winners, Hong Kong, China. Hong Kong manager Dennis Loh, asked about his team’s chances of winning, stated: “in terms of tactics, and technical ability, our team has what it takes to win, but the act of winning is as much about a state of mind as it is about tactics and technical skill, right now I think the team is in the right state of mind ”. With journalists and television crews watching the teams emerge from the changing rooms, Hong Kong lead player Guillermo Terreras bore his trademark relaxed, confident smile. Terreras scored his first goal just 30 seconds into the match. Looking equally calm and focused, Hong Kong teammate Martin Inchauspe continued with another goal in the first chukka, then with another 2 goals in the second, founded on superb rear-guard play from teammate John Fisher.
New Zealand, displaying their own inner focus, put up a vigorous opposition pushing through Hong Kong, China to score 2 goals during the second chukka, but ending it 2 goals behind. It was in the third and final chukkas that New Zealand took back the ground they had lost; players Kit Brooks demonstrated fearless defensive horsemanship, 3/7
riding off shoulder to shoulder against the Hong Kong, China offense, and allowing his teammates to push forward and seize 3 additional goals, to end the match-play with a 5 goals to 5 tie. It was indeed anyone’s match as the teams went into a nerve wracking penalty shoot-out. With the teams even at 2 penalty goals each, Terrera, maintaining that inner focus and calm he had begun with, sealed the match for Hong Kong, China with a third penalty goal.
The second match was Chile vs. England. Chile, who on Monday had beaten Hong Kong, China were viewed with the utmost respect by the England team, both before and after the game. The first chukka was an eventful struggle, with Chilean Matias Vial being forced to briefly leave his teammates one man short, while he exchanged a broken mallet. Despite his mallet set-back, it was Vial who took the only goal of the chukka. England managed to take back a goal in the second chukka, which marked the beginning of a more synchronized level of play.
The third chukka had hardly begun, when after a blink of an eye, England’s Meyrick swept the ball across field and scored within 8 seconds. The chukka continued with a level of synchronization that seemed as though it was being orchestrated by the heavens, with England weaving through the Chilean defense and scoring another 2 goals. Chile responded well, scoring an additional 1 goal, but ended the chukka 2 goals behind. In the final chukka, England continued their unstoppable combination of synchronized teamwork, rapidly backhanding the ball whenever it came towards their goal, and passing the ball forward to score another 2 goals.
Although Chile continued to play with passion and determination, it was clear the England lead was too great, and the match ended with a 6 goal to 3 win for England. Interviewed after the match, England team captain, James Harper, congratulated his team on the strength of their coordination, and noted the enormous defensive effort that the Chile offense had required of them: “it was in the second chukka we took control of ourselves and started working together as one,…Chile played very well, and forced us to emphasize defense, defense, defense”. England gentleman player Oliver Hipwood emphasized his respect for the Chilean team: “they are excellent players and they don’t hold back, but they are also gentlemen, it is a pleasure to play against a team that exemplifies the spirit of polo”.
The Quarter Finals will continue tomorrow, with Argentina playing France, and Canada playing South Africa.
Daily polo matches are being contested as follows:
Qualifying
Friday, 25 Jan 2013
Result: England vs USA 4-2
Hong Kong, China vs Brazil 7-4 South Africa vs India 7-3
Saturday, 26 Jan 2013
Result: Argentina vs Canada 6-3
England vs New Zealand 2-4
Hong Kong, China vs Chile 2-3
Sunday, 27 Jan 2013
Result: South Africa vs France 4-3
Argentina vs Australia 3-2
USA vs New Zealand 1-4
Monday, 28 Jan 2013
Result: Brazil vs Chile 4-5
India vs France 2-5
Canada vs Australia 3-3 (Penalty 2:1) 5/7
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2013
Result: Quarter-Finals 1: New Zealand vs Hong Kong 5-5 (Penalty 2:3) Quarter-Finals 2: Chile vs England 3-6
Thursday, 31 Jan 2013
Quarter-Finals 3: South Africa vs Canada Quarter-Finals 4: Argentina vs France
Information on Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2013
Gate opens: 11.30am
Match Time: 1pm to 4pm
Address: 16 Hai Tai Hua Ke Ju Lu Bin Hai Gao Xin Qu, Tianjin 300384, China
Enquiry: (86) 22 2372 8877
Official website: snowpoloworldcup.com
Matches may be watched online at: http://www.hurlinghampolo.com/polo_videos.php