Seaside games draw wave of support
The Asian Beach Polo Championship brought happy spectators to Hua Hin and helped raise money for women in dire need of assistance
With HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha in attendance, the recent Asian Beach Polo Championship B Grimm-InterContinental was reminiscent of polo matches in the UK played before a royal audience.
The only beach polo tournament in Asia, the event was held on sandy shores adjacent to InterContinental Hua Hin Resort.
With the Gulf of Thailand as an impressive backdrop, the tournament saw three teams, with players from various countries on the Thai Polo Club, Macau Polo and Singapore Polo teams competing for the Princess PA's Cup.
The Thai Polo Club team won the event, which brought proceeds of four million baht for a worthy charity _ the Kamlangjai (Inspire) Project by Princess PA, initiated by Princess Bajrakitiyabha to provide support to incarcerated women, pregnant inmates and babies born to inmates.
The Asian Beach Polo Championship was co-organised by Suwat Liptapanlop, a former deputy prime minister, in his capacity as the advisory chairman of the Organising Committee for Asian Beach Polo, and Harald Link, chairman of B Grimm Group and president of the Thailand Equestrian Federation, in his capacity as the chairman of the Organising Committee.
Mr Suwat said the charity beach polo event was organised for the second consecutive year to raise funds for the princess's charitable initiatives to abolish violence against women and to help those who may have felt all hope was lost.
Not only did the princess _ an able equestrian in her own right _ preside over this premier sporting event, she also led the players onto the beach field on horseback.
The play began with a throw-in of the ball by the princess, and each contestant had to meet all other contestants in turn. The polo players included Harald Link, Caroline Link and Agustin Martinez on the Thai Polo Club; Rodrigo Castro, Pedro Bettencourt, Baurista Urbina and Goncalo Cabral for Macau Polo; and Claudia Zeisberger, Peter Abisheganaden and Manuel Cereceda for Singapore Polo.
The Thai Polo Club team took the winner's trophy with a score of 16. Second place went to Macau Polo with nine points, while Singapore Polo scored five.
The highlight of the day may have been the beach-themed fashion show on horseback by Burberry and La Perla, presented by professional and guest models such as Abhasiri Chutikul, Vacha Wongpanit, Sasipreeya and Pachara Chirathivat, Phitsinee Tanwiboon, Pimlaor and Pimpan Pookaiyaudom, Thitapa Worawan na Ayudhya, Pimolmas Kijchaisawad and Thanaporn Chavatanont.
Other family entertainment events included special horse racing and booths for selling goods and for games. After the prize presentation, there was a glamorous evening party.
Source: Bangkok Post
Shame the cup we won which was supposed to have been donated by the princess reads; Beach Polo Dressing Winner! 