The first half of the FIP Arena Polo European Championship Azerbaijan, which is held at the Elite Horse and Polo Club in Baku, surprised everyone: The local team from Azerbaijan remained unbeaten and proved to everyone its tremendous progress in the sport of polo since its successful first appearance at the Grass Arena Polo World Cup Azerbaijan in the past year.
On the first weekend of the tournament, the six participating teams from Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Azerbaijan competed against each other in an indoor arena at the Elite Horse and Polo Club. After three days of exciting polo, Azerbaijan was successful in all its three matches. Spain and Germany won two matches, Switzerland and Ireland emerged victorious in one match respectively and Italy lost all its encounters. The matches of the local team from Azerbaijan were accompanied by enthusiastic fans, who cheered loudly to support their team. Patrick Maleitzke of team Germany showed a great performance on the first weekend and was named Most Valuable Player.
From 10-12 September 2015, the teams will face each other at the second weekend in an outdoor grass arena. The next match will take place on Thursday, 10 September at 17.00 hrs (local time), when Azerbaijan encounters Switzerland. The match is followed by the second game at 18.00 hrs (local time), in which Italy meets Germany. The day is finished with the third polo match at 19.00 hrs (local time), in which Ireland will fight against Spain.
World Polo together with the Equestrian Federation of Azerbaijan Republic (ARAF) and the Elite Horse & Polo Club organises the first ever FIP Arena Polo European Championship in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Federation of International Polo has awarded the event to Azerbaijan at the general assembly December 2014 in Buenos Aires. In 2013, the traditional sport of polo – formerly named Shovgan in Azerbaijan – returned to Baku with the Grass Arena Polo World Cup Azerbaijan. In the past two years World Polo organised two successful polo events in the Azerbaijani capital. La Martina signs as official supplier of the tournament.
RESULTS:
Friday, September 4th
GERMANY vs. AZERBAIJAN
7 – 9
SPAIN vs. ITALY
10 – 4.5
SWITZERLAND vs. IRELAND
6.5 – 9
Saturday, September 5th
ITALY vs. AZERBAIJAN
6.5 – 12
SWITZERLAND vs. SPAIN
3.5 – 8
IRELAND vs. GERMANY 2.5 – 5
Sunday, September 6th
SWITZERLAND vs. ITALY
11 – 1
GERMANY vs. SPAIN
8 – 5
IRELAND vs. AZERBAIJAN 4.5 – 7
SCHEDULE:
Friday, September 4th
16.30 Gate Open
17.00 1st Polo match GERMANY – AZERBAIJAN
18.00 2nd Polo match SPAIN – ITALY
19.15 3rd Polo match SWITZERLAND – IRELAND
Saturday, September 5th
16.30 Gate Open
17.00 1st Polo match ITALY – AZERBAIJAN
18.00 2nd Polo match SWITZERLAND – SPAIN
19.15 3rd Polo match IRELAND – GERMANY
Sunday, September 6th
16.30 Gate Open
17.00 1st Polo match SWITZERLAND – ITALY
18.00 2nd Polo match GERMANY – SPAIN
19.15 3rd Polo match IRELAND – AZERBAIJAN
Thursday, September 10th
16.30 Gate Open
17.15 1st Polo match AZERBAIJAN – SWITZERLAND
18.00 2nd Polo match ITALY – GERMANY
19.00 3rd Polo match IRELAND – SPAIN
Friday, September 11th
16.30 Gate Open
17.15 1st Polo match GERMANY – SWITZERLAND
18.00 2nd Polo match SPAIN – AZERBAIJAN
19.00 3rd Polo match ITALY – IRELAND
Saturday, September 12th
16.30 Gate Open
17.00 Welcome Speech and Azerbaijan Horse Show
17.30 Presentation all teams
18.00 Polo game finals 5/6 Place
19.15 Polo game finals 3/4 Place
20.30 Finals European Championship
21.30 Prize giving ceremony
22.00 AZERBAIJAN Polo Party at Elite Horse & Polo Club (Ticket Hotline: (+994 12) 565 31 51, (+994 77) 498 00 00 or (+994 55) 920 99 51)
