Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club
Under-18 International Polo Tournament
(Tianjin, October 10th, 2011)
Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club concludes its Under-18 International Polo Tournament with a fantastic victory for the USA Final Results: USA 5.5 England 4. Subsidiary Final Argentina wins 8:6 against South Africa.
On a glorious autumn afternoon Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club (“Metropolitan Polo Club”) once again showcased the superb skills of budding polo players from a bevy of international youth teams.
Argentina (playing in light blue) do battle against USA (in dark blue) on the first-day of Goldin U18 International Tournament at Metropolitan Polo Club
Held on Oct 5th and 6th, 2011, at the nation’s largest polo facility, the tournament featured junior players – all under the age of 18 years – hailing from the great polo playing nations of Argentina, USA, England and South Africa.
All games were played as 4-chukka matches under Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) rules. Throughout the tournament spectators, including parents of some of the young polo players, were shown frequent displays of solid teamwork as well as some excellent horsemanship leading to some truly exciting play.
Max Hutchinson from the England polo team, tackles Kareem Rosser from the USA team
On Wednesday October 5th, the draw brought Argentina to play the USA and England versus South Africa. In the fast-moving match between Argentina and USA the Americans come out on top by just half a goal winning 5.5: 5 against Argentina, with the USA’s Kareem Rosser from Pennsylvania, aged 18, scoring 3 goals.
The match between South Africa and England saw an equally spirited showdown in the warmth of the late afternoon, with the South Africans leading for most of the first half. However, the England team managed to turn the game around and by the end of the match England had rallied to beat South Africa 6:5 thanks to the supreme efforts of 18-year old William “Will” Berner, who scored three goals, and Barnaby Wilson, aged 17, who scored the final goal. Berner was part of a visiting school team which attended the Metropolitan Polo Club’s Junior Equestrian and Polo Programme held over this summer.
In the subsidiary final held on Thursday October 6th, Argentina met South Africa. South Africa again showed great promise with 3 goals under their belt in the first chukka. The Argentina team started off slowly but picked up speed and ended with 8 goals, 5 of them scored by Bautista Michelleti, aged 18. Overall it was Michelleti who proved to be the top scorer in the tournament placing a total of 7 goals. England’s Will Berner was the tournament’s second highest scorer with 6 goals.
In the interval spectators of all ages gathered on the field to ‘stomp divots’ a tradition whereby the audience steps on upturned turf or ‘divots’ to press it back into place. Goodie bags were offered to those who found a cork among the divots.
The final between team USA and team England was hard fought. From the start, the England players had been given a half-goal advantage due to handicap. After some fantastic play and spirited defense from the entire England team, the USA team members nonetheless, managed to gain the upper hand with Matthew Coppola driving home 3 goals in the second half, closing the game with 5.5 goals against England.
Argentina (playing in light blue) and South Africa (in green) taking part in the subsidiary final of Goldin U18 International Tournament at Metropolitan Polo Club
At the end of the tournament the USA team members took great joy in showering each other with champagne. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) award went to England’s Max Hutchison, aged 18, who plays off a one-goal handicap. Max provided some superb defence tactics in the final and regularly stepped in to stop drives from the opposing team. The Best Pony award went to “Dunski”, a seven year-old New Zealand mare, newly-arrived in July, played by Matthew Coppola from team USA.
The event ended with a post-match party on the field where all the polo players and guests enjoyed an evening of live music and tantalizing BBQ fare in a semi-open tent.
Runners-up England receive awards at the Goldin U18 International Tournament at Metropolitan Polo Club. (From left to right) Harvey Lee, Vice Chairman of Goldin Real Estate Financial Holdings Limited with William Berner; Max Hutchinson; David Morley, Team Manager; Charlie Scott; Barnaby Wilson and Rowland Wong, President of Metropolitan Polo Club & Hotel
Next on the Metropolitan Polo Club events calendar is the biggest winter event of the year, Asia’s second international Snow Polo Challenge running from 4-12 February 2012. After the huge success of the 2011 inaugural tournament up to a dozen teams are being invited to participate in the 2012 matches, guaranteeing even more excitement for polo fans.
Daily Scores of the Goldin U18 International Tournament
5 Oct Argentina 5 vs USA 5.5
England 6 vs South Africa 5
6 Oct Argentina 8 vs South Africa 6
England 4 vs USA 5.5
About Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club
Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club (“Metropolitan Polo Club”) currently features two standard polo fields, stabling for 157 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.
England (in white) play South Africa (in green) in the first-day of Goldin U18 International Tournament at Metropolitan Polo Club
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.