Mercury Snow Polo Cup 2008
Otrada Equestrian Centre, 17 February 2008
For the fifth year running, the Mercury Snow Polo Cup took place at the Otrada Equestrian Centre in Moscow on 16 – 17 February 2008. Organised by the Russian Polo Club, Eventica and Underground PRO, the title Partner of the tournament was Mercury, the leading Russian luxury goods house.
The Mercury Snow Polo Cup, in its jubilee year, was marked by classic Russia weather: on both days of the event the temperature struggled to go above -15 degrees. The severe conditions did not, however, put off the guests and participants who thronged to the Otrada Equestian Centre: for the fifth time, the event was host to prominent figures from politics, business and Moscow’s social scene who gathered to take part in this most traditional and glamorous of sporting occasions. The Mercury Snow Polo Cup has now fully established itself amongst the ranks of the top-tier international winter polo events alongside Aspen (USA), Kitzbühl (Austria), Megeve (France), St. Moritz (Switzerland) and Cortina (Italy). Moscow can now join this elite list.
It is only fitting that the Title Sponsor of such a prestigious event should be a company that embodies luxury and style in Russia. Mercury, founded in 1993, is a specialist luxury sector retailer and a respected Russian partner of some of the world’s most iconic luxury brands. Currently, Mercury is the market leader in Moscow in the luxury goods sector, whilst at the same time developing its own distribution network throughout Russia’s major cities.
The event was organised for the second year running by Eventica and Russian events agency Underground PRO alongside the Russian Polo Club. It is largely due to the efforts of these two companies that the tournament has evolved from a local sporting event into a large-scale social highlight with an international appeal.
At the press conference which preceded the Finals of the tournament on Sunday 17 February, Victor Huaco, President of the Russian Polo Club, remarked that the development of polo in Russia was moving at an unexpectedly fast pace: “With each new season, the number of players increases, and the quality of play steadily improves. As well as this, an ever-increasing number of polo ponies are arriving here from Argentina: in the last five years, the number of polo ponies on Russian soil has increased two-fold, from 30 to 75-80 ponies. Polo is unique amongst sports in that the pony is plays as big a role as the player, meaning that it is an equal member of the ‘team’”. Sergei Gyurdzhian, Marketing Director, Land Rover and PR Director, Jaguar Land Rover Russia, spoke about the synergy between polo and core Land Rover values: “Range Rover, a marque which we represent in Russia, is an automobile associated with royal families, the aristocracy and American and European business elites. This is the one and the same elite who are attracted to polo.” Land Rover has been a loyal supporter of polo in Russia since it first re-emerged in the country less than a decade ago. The Mercury Snow Polo Cup 2008 is no less than the ninth polo tournament in Russia that Land Rover has taken part as a Team Partner.
Pavel Treyvas, Sales Director of Villagio Estate, Team Partner of the Mercury Snow Polo Cup 2008, announced plans for the construction of a new equestrian club on Novorizhsky Shosse in Moscow, allowing polo to become an integral element in the way of life of the owners of the elite suburban Villagio Estate residences. Pavel expressed the hope that the number of tournament-quality polo fields in Moscow would increase – one more step in the development of the sport in Russia. To this end, he proposed to host a polo championship tournament at the prestigious Millennium Park development – one of Villagio Estate’s largest new projects. Guests of the Mercury Snow Polo Cup 2008 were presented with a model, carved from ice – a scale representation of one of Villagio Estate’s Deluxe Class residences. The five metre by three metre installation, emblazoned with the Villagio Estate logo, took three days to carve by master ice-sculptures.
Team Sponsor Beluga also chose the ice sculpture theme with an ice bar which allowed guests to sample not only this premium brand of authentic Russian vodka, but also a spoonful of black caviar at the same time. Beluga vodka is, to this day, produced in the traditional way with pure Siberian water. Each bottle is a unique artefact, and its taste is savoured by the most demanding of connoisseurs.
The vodka, doubtless, was a factor in the gripping final game of the tournament, which from the outset had spectators on the edges of their seats. The contest on the field was extremely closely-fought, with the goal difference between the teams at the end of each chukka never more than 3 goals. Four teams competed for the 3 prize positions on the winners’ podium: Chopard, Beluga, Land Rover and Villagio Estate. In the first contest, between Villagio Estate and Land Rover, the latter emerged triumphant (10:11). The stars of the second match were the Englishman, Jamie Lee Hardy (handicap 5), who has already won the Best Player trophy at Kitzbühl this season, and the Argentinean Diego Brown (handicap 5). Both players were appearing in Russia for the first time. The final match – for first place in the tournament rankings – was effectively a duel between Jamie Lee Hardy (Chopard) and Diego Brown (Beluga). At the end the result saw a 10:13 victory for Beluga – although it was a triumph achieved not without difficulty: the Chopard team ensured that Beluga had to fight for every point and there were many occasions when the quality of Chopard’s play caused grave concern in the Beluga camp.
After the tournament, the two highest goalscorers, Diego Brown (21 goals) and Jamie Lee Hardy (19 goals) aired their thoughts on polo in Russia: “I was really impressed by the high standard of Russian polo players” commented Brown, adding “luck, of course, is important however more important is the pony and the skill of the player”; whilst Lee Hardy said: “Luck is always an important factor, however in this game Diego really had a huge impact in every sense of the word. The game was immensely satisfying for me – as has been my entire stay in Russia.”
The smooth organisation of the event allowed this most colourful of sports to be seen in its best and most dramatic light. Spectators were able to witness some classic sporting moments, including the rare occurrence of a pony ‘scoring’ a goal with its’ hoof.
Special mention must be made of Anastasia Huaco, wife of Russian Polo Club President Victor Huaco and member of the Chopard team. Only six months after the birth of their second daughter, Mila, Anastasia has not only regained her stunning figure, but also performed magnificently in her husband’s team. Anastasia said: “In Argentina, which has given so much to polo around the world, you rarely see a lady taking part in tournaments – or indeed playing polo at all. Therefore a lady on a polo pony, as a rule, wants to express her strength of character – and I wish to express my sincere hope that Russian women will follow my example and take up this beautiful and proud sport.”
The prize-giving ceremony became the excuse for general carousing amongst spectators and players alike. With a Range Rover storming onto the polo field, event sponsor Villagio Estate presented prize certificates, with a special discounted offer for a Deluxe Class residence, to the players. Beluga generously donated luxury bottles of Beluga Gold Line vodka to the victors, whilst Mercury handed out special mementos of the day. A day of freezing weather, full of adrenalin and excitement, then turned into an evening of warmth and fun as the After Party kept guests going to the accompaniment of the cool jazz sounds of the Brothers Ivanov late into the night.
Team Partners of the Mercury Snow Polo Cup were: Chopard, Land Rover, Villagio Estate and Beluga.
