5-8 MAY 2011 -- 2011 INTERNATIONAL POLO CLUB SERIES AT VRSC

Preliminary Rounds

Thursday 5th May at VR Sports Club
4.30 pm S.P.P.'s field Moscow versus London (4 chukkas) -- Victory for London
5.30 pm V.R.'s field Bangkok versus Singapore (4 chukkas) -- Victory for Bangkok

Friday 6th May at VR Sports Club
4.30 pm S.P.P.'s field Singapore versus London (4 chukkas) -- Tie Score
5.30 pm V.R's field Bangkok versus Moscow (4 chukkas) -- Victory for Bangkok

Saturday 7th May at VR Sports Club
4.30 pm S.P.P.'s field Bangkok versus London (4 chukkas) -- Victory for Bangkok
5.30 pm V.R.'s field Singapore versus Moscow (4 chukkas) -- Victory for Singapore

Sunday 8th May FINALS at VR Sports Club
4.30 pm Subsidiary Final (4 chukkas) -- Moscow defeats London (exciting game)
5.30 pm Final (4 chukkas) -- Bangkok wins the first International Polo Series

VR Sports Club 1. Tom Claytor: 1 2. Apichett Raksriaksorn (Tal): 0 3. Nutthadith Sila-Amornsak (No): 0 4. Lucas Lujan: 3

Ham Polo Club 1. Ploy Bhinsaeng: -1 2. Affi Ashraf: 0 3. Ba Pataudi: 0 4. Casabal Adolfo: 4

Moscow Polo Club 1. Egor Zaostrovtsev: -1 2. Pavel Isaev: -1 3. Hernan Traverso: 4 4. Evgeniy Ovcharov: 0

Singapore Polo Club 1. Gerry Gan: -1 2. Stijn Welkers: 0 3. Jonathan Gaber: -1 4. Agustin Andrada: 3

BANGKOK WINS INTERNATIONAL SERIES - Singapore played a very determined final match against Thailand. They played a brilliant game against Moscow the previous day and also an upset tie with London on Friday. Jon had captured all of wife Lynly's carbon fiber polo sticks and proved to be a solid player assisting Stijn and Gerry Gan on attack. Khun Tal was playing very well with Khun Noo for Bangkok and carried passes from Lukas to goal. In the end, it was a victory for Bangkok after an enjoyable match.

MOSCOW WINS SUBSIDIARY FINAL - In an extremely exciting match, we watched the Moscow team play a very solid team game on the final day to defeat London. Hernan Traverso received the award "Mas Caballero en La Cancha" for his gentlemanly play and excellent backhand passes to his team mates. It was a great honor to have the players from Moscow join us in Thailand for this tournament. Pavel instructed all of us on the fine art of appreciating wine. Evgeny showed us several determined charges down the field with excellent horsemanship. Egor was a dynamic point man carrying the ball to goal.

FOREPLAY - The tension is building on the side of the field at SIAM POLO PARK as teams from Moscow and Ham Polo have arrived to check out the horses and the competition. It is evident that we have some real talent to bear at this year's INTERNATIONAL CLUB SERIES. The Russians are playing as a team for the first time in Thailand with Egor, Pavel and Evgeniy from the Moscow polo club. They have arrived with their chief gaucho Hernan Traverso who has been in Moscow for 6 years now. Hernan was immediately recruited into La Asociacion de Los Gauchos Timidos and he was blushing with pride at the honor bestowed upon him. On the other side of the field, we saw Khun Ploy training hard with two of her teammates. Aviation enthusiast Affi Ashraf has been playing for 4-5 years at Ham, and in his beaming red helmet, it is certain that he will be a force to contend with on the field. Also gracing the Ham team is veteran polo legend Ba Pataudi who will be celebrating his 59th birthday in July. Ba plays in India and in Pakistan, and this is not an easy thing to do. Ba was telling us that there are 3 all important things in India -- Religion, Cricket, and Bollywood. Ba's brother, General Isfaniyar Pataudi, is the Head of the Pakistan Polo Association. Ba has been playing at Ham Polo Club for 25 years, and he is an Honorary Member of the Genghis Khan Polo Club in Karokorum, Mongolia. Ba's father was the High Commissioner to Malaysia for 5 years and also served as Captain to the Selangar Polo Club team which at that time was located exactly where the Petronas Twin Towers are standing today. His father was playing of 5 goals at age 55 years of age. Ba is looking forward to attend the Finals of the polo this 25 June at Royal Selangar.

THURSDAY - An exciting first match with Ham clinging onto a 1/2 goal lead in the final chukka until young Ba streaked down the field and claimed victory for Ham. The Russians played extremely well as a team. Hernan blinded all competition with the bright pink bandages on his polo boots. Egor was explosive in the front and Pavel was in charge of equestrian acrobatics as he managed to stay aboard amidst a most outreaching display. Bangkok VR team had a challenging game with Singapore as the Paisano Andrada played a very solid game with passes up to his fast-improving team with Stijn, Gerry and Jon firing relentlessly on goal. Khun Tal was too strong for Singapore to contain and had 3 amazing goals fed by Khun Lu to secure a VR victory.