When you attend polo tournaments at Polo Club Luxembourg you get the complete package and Argentina Polo Day, held over the weekend of 11-12 September, was no exception. Entertainment with hospitality was full on from midday.
The field-side VIP White Lounge served a sumptuous lunch all afternoon, with the waiters from Come à la Maison scurrying between tables with bottles of champagne or plates piled high with empanadas. TsaraKomba had donated the fantastic tombola prize, a week's stay in a luxury ecolodge in Madagascar, the proceeds going to SOS Children's Villages. The multi-national music group, Knights Club serenaded diners who were also treated to an Equine Show before the polo matches. The children were catered for by Folie Royale with games and face painting. Both players and spectators were enchanted by Valerie form @scentcraftme who had produced truly unique fragrances inspired by polo and who could enthusiastically explain the magic behind each fragrance. Alexander had his Ratafia de Champagne on display and Gili provided free tasting of his hot-shots - ginger, lemon and honey. DJ Raul was ready with music for a party that would go on until well after midnight. As I said....the full package!
And then there was the polo. Four teams, evenly balanced, played for two trophies - on Saturday the Ambassador 's Cup, on Sunday the Argentina Cup.
Spectators sat along the full length of the field, relaxed and ready to cheer on their teams which were given sponsor names and nations to represent. We had Team Lamborghini/Italy with Pablo Casero,Adriano Fossati, Susan D'Ansembourg and Lucas Boffy; Team Augustinus Bader/Argentina with Sebastian Silvestre, Bert Van Deynze, Andreas Schwiertz and Kyara Hallet sharing with Paule Biren. Team Sotheby's/UK were represented by Pablo Casero with Ben Dew, Tom Angel and Jean Baptiste Olivier, while Renaud Belouis Cuisinier/Luxembourg consisted of Tomy Casero, Paloma Lauro, Aurélie Molitor and Maxou Glaesener. Each match was preceded by a march-in accompanied by luxury cars provided by Lamborghini and Bentley.
Winners on the Saturday were Team Renaud Belouis/Luxembourg. Tomy Casero playing at Nr4 had Maxou helping him out at Nr3, but both Paloma and Aurélie were outstanding up front.
For the Ambassador's Cup on Sunday it was Team Sotheby's/UK, who after a tight game against Team Renaud Belouis Cuisinier/Luxembourg held the competitive fire to manage a close 8:7 win and lift the trophy.
Pablo Casero on a supersonic pony, Chimanga, was always going to be a driving force at Nr4 for Sotheby's/UK, but even he was flummoxed by a brilliant backhand goal from Paloma Lauro from such an acute angle that it surprised everyone and brought her side, Renaud Belouis Cuisinier/Luxembourg, a bit of breathing space in the third chukker. However, with Ben Dew working hard, reading the game well, and supported by Tom Angel and Jean-Baptiste Olivier who were playing above their ratings, the Team Sotheby's/UK turned up their pace attack and came in as winners.
Ben Dew was awarded the MVP prize while his pony, Bohemia, received BPP for her excellent effort on the field.
Players and spectators were having such a great time that most couldn't believe that the weekend was coming to a close. These are true party people and no one looked ready to leave when I was packing up to get on the road.
Well done, Polo Club Luxembourg and I hope to see you all next year.
