The Cartier and Tang Polo teams will face each other in the final of the first Cartier International China Polo Challenge 2012 later today (Sunday 14 October). This means that the Tang Polo Club Chairman Shilai Liu, playing for Cartier in this competition, will find himself on opposing sides to his fellow Tang Polo Club director Nan Liu.
Cartier earned its ticket through to Sunday’s final by defeating the Equus & Co team 7- 3 in the first semi-final of the day. This was despite Equus having added support thanks to their sponsors, Jim Whisenand and Maria Lorenzo, who had flown to China from the USA specifically to support their team.
Tang Polo team took the second final ticket in convincing style too, defeating the all-English Dorchester Collection team 11-5. The writing seemed on the wall after the first two chukkas as Dorchester Collection had failed to score. However young Jack Richardson was determined to keep his team’s hopes alive for as long as possible. He returned to the field after half-time and scored some fabulous goals. Time counted against them though, with the home side winning 11-5, but Jack’s enthusiasm had inspired his team-mates and they only went down after a great battle on the field.
Dorchester Collection and Equus & Co will now play for the Tang Polo Trophy, the subsidiary trophy in the first ever Cartier International China Polo Challenge.
This event is managed by the core team from Guards Polo Club, led by Chief Executive Neil Hobday and Event Director James Turner. The team has been working closely with its partner Tang Polo Club and sponsor Cartier to create a spectacular day of polo. Two days of league matches, plus these great semi-finals, ensures that the mostly Chinese audience attending these finals can experience a magnificent Cartier polo day for the first time.
Cartier: Shilai Liu (0); Adriano Agosti (1); Juan Jose Brane (7); Ramiro Garcia Dagna (4)
Equus & Co: Aron Harilela (1); Alex Brodie (1); Oliver Hipwood (5); Roddy Matthews (3).
Tang Polo: Nan Liu (0); Top Raksriaksorn (0); Horacio Etcheverry (6); Lucas Lujan (4).
Dorchester Collection: Jonathan Munro Ford (-1); Kim Richardson (1); Chris Hyde (6); Jack Richardson (4).
Image: Guards Polo Club's Chairman and CEO, Jock Green-Armytage and Neil Hobday, in conversation with Dorchester Collection team players Kim and Jack Richardson at Tang Polo Club, Beijing (Images of Polo)