The Grand Opening of Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Hotel is
celebrated by a thrilling weekend of international polo matches coinciding with the establishment of Tianjin Polo Association.
Results of the matches played:
2 July: Hong Kong Goldin 12 : Chantilly 7
3 July: Young England 9 : Young France 3
(Tianjin, 11 July, 2011) – As part of the weekend-long celebrations to herald the formal opening of Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Hotel, Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club (“Metropolitan Polo Club”) recently played host to distinguished guests from home and abroad. They were joined by world class polo players as well as young polo protégés who took part in two amazing polo matches that launched the inaugural Goldin Gold Cup 2011.
Team Hong Kong Goldin (wearing burgundy) battles with Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly (in green shirts)at Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club on 2 July, 2011
Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Hotel is a unique five-star hotel which benefits not just from exceptional dining and leisure facilities but also from direct access to one of Metropolitan Polo Club’s two polo pitches. The hotel celebrated its grand opening on Saturday 2 July with a dazzling ribbon-cutting ceremony. Among the guests were Mr. Zhou Sichun, Secretary of the Working Committee of Binhai Gao Xin Qu as well as local and overseas dignitaries.
Playing for Team Hong Kong Goldin, Santiago Gaztambide shows his world class polo skills
Amid much fanfare, the establishment of Tianjin Polo Association was also announced later that day, marking a major step in the advancement of polo in China. Congratulatory speeches were delivered in the honourable presence of Ms. Zhang Junfang, Vice Mayor of Tianjin Municipal Government. She was joined by Mr. Eduardo Huergo, President of the Federation of International Polo (FIP) and Peter Yunghanns, an FIP Executive Committee Member, both of whom flew in especially for the event.
ianjin, Sunday 3 July 2011, Young England (in white) vies with Young France (in brown)
Tianjin Polo Association has been formed under the guidance of Tianjin Sports Bureau and is dedicated to being a channel of communications with the FIP. Its ultimate aim is one day to see a polo World Cup in China. It is hoped that Tianjin will become the host of such prestigious international and domestic polo tournaments, and in doing so, the sport will grow in popularity throughout China and globally, attracting attention from overseas and domestic media and boosting tourism.
Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Hotel is a 167-room hotel located in a 222-acre private estate. Designed along the lines of an integrated resort-style property it comes replete with two polo fields, 14 restaurants and lounges including the inimitable Le Pan by Edward Voon who brings to China his own unique style of contemporary French cuisine.
The hotel’s five-storey wine cellar and spectacular pillar-free ballroom, which can cater up to 1,000 guests, will impress even the most discerning visitors.
The Goldin Gold Cup 2011, played on July 2, was a riveting 6-chukka match between home team Hong Kong Goldin and visiting French team Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly. When the final whistle blew the score stood at 12:7 to Hong Kong Goldin who claimed the Goldin Gold Cup, a stunning gold and ceramic trophy made by British Crown Jewellers Garrard.
homas Calascibetta (Young France) and William Batchelor (Young England) fight for the ball in a thrilling Under-18 polo match
Hong Kong Goldin’s winning team comprised of the well-known 7-goal player Pablo Jauretche and his nephew Pierre Jauretche, the popular Santiago ‘Flaco’ Gaztambide and John Fisher, Director of Stable Operations of Metropolitan Polo Club.
On Sunday 3 July, the afternoon saw a fast-moving 4-chukka match by two Under-18 teams represented by Young England and Young France. Players as young as fifteen took to the saddle and displayed formidable horsemanship. Young England came out on top winning 9:3 against Young France; jubilant smiles broke out as the team held aloft their trophy, a sparkling silver platter also by Garrard.
An estimated 1,800 guests attended the event, among them were celebrated names from the international polo world, Mr. Eduardo Huergo from FIP, David Woodd, Chief Executive of The Hurlingham Polo Association and the manager of Young England.
On 2 July, John Fisher of the Hong Kong Goldin team scored 6 goals making him the top scorer. The Most Valuable Player award went to Brieuc Rigaux from Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly and the Best Pony award went to “Shady”, a 7 year-old mare who was played by Pablo Jauretche of Hong Kong Goldin.
In the Under-18 game on 3 July, Young England’s Charlie Walton, aged 16, landed the ball in the goal four times to give him the title of highest scoring player, while Tomas Beresford, aged 15, was awarded the title of Most Valuable Player. Tomas scored 2 goals and had worked brilliantly to coordinate tactics with his team mates.
With many in the crowd taking the opportunity to sport their summer finery several lifestyle-related awards were also presented during the Goldin Gold Cup 2011 including “Best Hat Award”, sponsored by Hatwoman, a Hong Kong millinery shop. “Best Dressed Gentleman Award” was kindly sponsored by Italian master tailor Fabio Betti, and “Best Dressed Lady Award” was generously supported by D-SATA By CURE from Beijing.
About Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club
Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club (“Metropolitan Polo Club”) currently features two standard polo fields, stabling for 150 horses, indoor training facilities, a riding school and a luxurious clubhouse adjoining the newly-opened Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Hotel. The state-of-the-art equestrian facilities are managed by international professionals who are recognized globally for their horsemanship.
International fixtures on the Club’s sporting calendar include seasonal polo matches as well as Asia’s only Snow Polo Challenge which, at its inauguration in February 2011, attracted more than 7,000 spectators.
Metropolitan Polo Club was opened in November 2010 by Hong Kong-listed developer Goldin Properties Holdings as the sporting and social flagship of the “Goldin Metropolitan” mega-development which will comprise three zones: a Central Business District, home to the 117-storey tower Goldin Finance 117; a 700,000 square metre (173-acre) low density luxury residential belt; and the 898,000 square metre (222-acre) Metropolitan Polo Club.
For more information, please visit www.metropolitanpoloclub.com.