Hamburg (POLO+10 – 17/06/2016) – After hosting the first ever FIP Arena Polo European Championship in 2015, the ARAF Elite Horse & Polo Club presents the 4th Arena Polo World Cup from 9-11 September 2016.

Four international polo clubs are taking part with their teams to compete for the trophy. The sponsors La Martina, Gilan, Maserati and Badrutt’s Palace feature teams and players of the Evviva Polo Club St. Moritz, Santa María Polo Club Sotogrande, Alegría Polo Club Buenos Aires and the Elite Horse & Polo Club Baku. The teams can resort to 100 excellent polo ponies from Argentina (80) and the local region Karabakh (20).

For 4 years Mr. Bahruz Nabijev of the Equestrian Federation of Azerbaijan Republic (ARAF) organises this unique and top class arena polo tournament together with World Polo of Reto Gaudenzi and his team. Last year Reto Gaudenzi of World Polo has been appointed by General Elcin Guliyev (President ARAF) as the official representative of ARAF for international polo relations. Thanks to General Elcin Gulijev, President of ARAF, and Mr. Manuchehr Ahadpur Khangah polo was raised from zero to a remarkable international level in Azerbaijan during the last four years. Proof for that is not at least the victory of the Azeri team in the Arena Polo European Championship 2015. Now the local team has substantiated its role as defending champion with a three-month polo training in Argentina. In December, Azerbaijan will apply for the FIP European Championship 2018 played on full-size grass fields.

For the 4th Arena Polo World Cup Reto Gaudenzi, who is the organiser of the world-renowned Snow Polo World Cup in St. Moritz as well, brings together the unique locations of Baku and St. Moritz. “We will stage a glamorous and traditional St. Moritz Night in Baku.” The legendary hotel Badrutt’s Palace in St. Moritz will also be in charge for the excellent VIP Catering together with a local caterer from Elite Horse & Polo Club.

4 days of great sport and glamorous polo nights with great entertainment in Baku will welcome guests from all over the world.

About polo in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is known as the birthplace of polo and in 2013, the sport returned to Baku with the Grass Arena Polo World Cup Azerbaijan. In the past three years World Polo organised three successful polo events in the Azerbaijani capital, under the direction of Reto Gaudenzi and in cooperation with the Equestrian Federation of Azerbaijan Republic (ARAF) and the Elite Horse and Polo Club Bina. Following the huge success of the first two years, Baku was last year scene for the first ever FIP Arena Polo European Championship. 2018 the vibrant city applies for the European Championship in grass polo.

Programme:

Friday, 9th September 2016
5.30 pm Gate Open
6.00 pm 1st Polo match: GILAN – LA MARTINA
7.15 pm 2nd Polo match: BADRUTT’S PALACE – MASERATI

Saturday, 10th September 2016
5.30 pm Gate Open
6.00 pm 1st Polo match: BADRUTT’S PALACE – LA MARTINA
7.15 pm 2nd Polo match: MASERATI – GILAN
8.00 pm St. Moritz meets Baku Polo Party at Elite Polo Club

Ticket Hotline – Baku Polo Party:
(+994 12) 565 31 51, (+994 50) 242 01 65, (+994 51) 664 52 51, (+994 55) 246 68 96, (+994 55) 920 99 51

Sunday, 11th September 2016
5.30 pm Gate Open
6.00 pm 1st Polo match Finals for 3rd/4th Place
7.15 pm 2nd Polo match Final Arena Polo World Cup Azerbaijan 1st/2nd Place
8.00 pm Prize giving ceremony – Farewell Party

Teams:

TEAM BADRUTT’S PALACE HOTEL (Evviva Polo Club St Moritz, Switzerland)
Patrick Maleitzke (GER, +4)
Tito Gaudenzi (CH, +3)
René Kleinlugtenbelt (GER, +1)

TEAM GILAN (Elite Horse & Polo Club Baku, Azerbaijan)
Tarlan Gurbanaliyev (AZ, +2)
Rashad Hasanov (AZ, +2)
Elchin Jamalli (AZ, +3)
Ali Rzayev (AZ, 0)

TEAM MASERATI (Santa María Polo Club Sotogrande, Spain)
Richard Fagan (IRL, +1)
Santiago Torreguitar (ESP, +4)
Mario Gomez (ESP, +3)
William Redford (ESP, +1)

TEAM LA MARTINA (Alegría Polo Club Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Fabio Meier (CH, +2)
Luca Meier (CH, +2)
Fabian Bolanterio (ARG, +4)
Werner Meier (CH, +1)

Teams consist of three players and substitutes.

OFFICIALS
Umpire: Marcelo Garrahan
Speaker: Jan-Erik Franck
Timekeeper: Christian Dunkelberg
Ball Judge: Antonio D’Aurelio
Polo DJ: DJ Ray Douglas

Photo credit “POLO+10”