Congratulations to team Maissen/Parmigiani on winning the Alpine Trophy at the Klosters Snow Polo tournament!
Klosters Snow Polo A Different Kind of Event
Story by Celeste Neil, Klosters Polo Club. Photography by Glen Burrows and Andre Springer.
In a thrilling final that was very even to the last second Maissen/Parmigiani scored the "golden goal" in the 5th chukka and won the title with 10:9. The atmosphere was electric with a huge number of spectators joining to watch the games and shouting out the names of their preferred team right to the final second on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Klosters . . .
An eager and rugged up audience look on at the charity game in aid of Sentebale - Photo by Andre Springer
Swiss polo player Simon Luginbühl scored the decisive goal in the final shot of the tournament, after a tie at the end of the fourth chukka, his golden goal in the fifth chukka secured victory for his team Maissen/Parmigiani 10:9 against team BMW. This is the first time that long standing sponsors Maissen/Parmigiani have taken the trophy in the tournament and the players and sponsors were ecstatic at this hugely wanted win. After six months out of play due to an injury the Polo Club de Veytay player has shown he has returned to his top form. But Luginbuhl gave credit to teammates Mark Hänni and Pedro Llorente for their combined efforts that brought them to such an exciting victory.
The all-English team for new team sponsor BMW with Sebastian Dawnay, Gavin Turner and David Lewis presented itself as a worthy opponent reaching the final of the tournament in Klosters, which went into overtime. Tournament Director Daniel Waechter, his daughters, Dayna and Jill Waechter and Marcel Geser with Oscar Mancini (team Duran Duran) took fourth place defeated by Tim Bown, Charlie Wooldridge and Paul Knights of Team Hackett with 9:15. Henry Brett, former England captain, alongside Cédric Schweri and Stefan Locher of team How To Spend It lost the fifth place to the Davos Klosters team of Jamie Morrison, Simon Arber and Spencer McCarthy who won with 14:9. Chris Kiesel and Dominik Velazquez, who lined up with the Swiss Martin Vogt for team CheapTickets.com lost the seventh place to the Peaches Property team of Dr. Thomas "Tuti" Wolfensberger, Peter Sander and Francisco Podesta who won with 10:6.
How To Spend It vs CheapTickets.ch on Saturday 21st - photo by Glen Burrows
Team Peaches Property vs CheapTickets.ch - Saturday 21st
Kloster . . . A Different Kind Of Winter Event
Well done to all teams taking part at this tournament - this year we experienced everything from record levels of snow falling on Friday evening to Duran Duran and Annie Lennox singing unplugged in the VIP tent! The charity evening in aid of Sentebale added a new level of glamour and fun to the tournament, with attendees including the British pop stars Duran Duran who had played live on the Saturday 21st afternoon on location at the polo at the Altitude Festival.
The evening also saw a thrilling auction to raise money for the charity and the Annie Lennox singing an acoustic version of “Sweet Dreams” at the table for the highest bidder, whilst super model Yasmin Le Bon and her daughter Amber cheered her on Simon le Bon’s acoustic version of “Ordinary World”. Much fun was had all round and it was indeed one of the most memorable Klosters Snow Polo tournaments to date!
The Annual Klosters Snow Polo is a Winter Event that is Really Rather Different. A snow polo tournament in which many of the games are played after dark, a thrilling aspect devised specifically by the tournament founders, Alpine Polo Club, who are passionate about making the “sport of kings” more accessible to a wider public. Thanks to its unique snow area setting, spectators can get right up close to the action, literally able to reach out and touch the horses, which makes for an electrifying atmosphere.
This exhilarating tournament once again descended this January into the pretty Swiss Alpine village of Klosters. The holiday location is historically loved by Royals and skiers alike and is the perfect backdrop for the polo tournament’s “boutique” style, and chic but understated atmosphere of this very British event in Switzerland.
The Klosters tournament is an exciting fusion of the traditional with the contemporary and has a fun, festival style atmosphere that is appealing to everyone seeking a truly memorable Alpine winter experience; a polo simulator, gourmet food stalls, high end “pop up” shops, children’s entertainment as well as live music from new bands.
This year's tournament ran alongside the festival event 'Altitude' – which featured British pop superstars Duran Duran and Swiss pop band Pegasus live in concert on January 21st. Plus 2012 saw the launch of a very special new nightclub called Alpine Soul Kitchen, which cooked up some soul grooves in the snow.
“We are so excited at how the Klosters Snow Polo tournament has now expanded into a winter event that offers not only spectacular sport but also now a huge range of entertainment”, says Daniel Waechter, the tournament’s founder and president of the Alpine Polo Club. “Also for the first time the tournament had eight teams compete, and started a day earlier. "We are also delighted to announce that we have signed a three year deal with the village of Klosters and the marketing organisation Destination Davos Klosters for the tournament”, says Waechter.
Once again the tournament hosted players and teams from all over the world, including Germany, England, Argentina and Mexico as well as Switzerland. The tournament continued team sponsorship support from British fashion brand Hackett, Parmigiani watches, Maissen jeweler, Davos-Klosters destination, The Financial Times How To Spend It magazine. Also new for 2012, BMW, Klosters Snow Polo car partner, who brought the brand’s driving experience to life on location, and the tournament’s British media sponsor, The Financial Times and it’s How To Spend It magazine, Europe’s leading luxury lifestyle title. This year too the polo has an established media partnership with the renowned financial and economic Swiss publications Handelszeitung, Bilanz and Stocks (published by Axel Springer Schweiz AG).
Celeste Neil Klosters Polo Club Marketing Director
Overview of results and teams :
Wednesday, 18/01/2012
Duran Duran // How To Spend It 16:7
BMW // CheapTickets.ch 15:9
Maissen/Parmigiani // Peach Property 16:12
Thursday, 19/01/2012
Hackett // Davos Klosters 14:11
Parmigiani Maissen // Duran Duran 12:11
How To Spend It // Peach Property 13:9
Friday, 20/01/2012
Davos Klosters // CheapTickets.ch 13:9
BMW // Hackett 17:15
Saturday, 21/01/2012
Peach Property // CheapTickets.ch 10:6
Hackett // Duran Duran 15:9
Sunday, 22/01/2012
Davos Klosters // How To Spend It 14:9
Parmigiani Maissen // BMW 10:9
Ranking:
1. Parmigiani Maissen
2. BMW
3. Hackett
4. Duran Duran
5. Davos Klosters
6. How To Spend It
7. Peach Property
Team Duran Duran players Oscar Mancini, tournament director Daniel Waechter and his daughter Jillian - Photo by Andre Springer
Mark Hänni, Simon Luginbühl and Pedro Llorente of Maissen/Parmigiani and the Alpine Trophy - photo by Andre Springer
Celebrations after the finals - Photo by Andre Springer
Tournament director Daniel Waechter with tournament head of marketing Celeste Neil - photo by Andre Springer
"Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly" 
Rabii Benadada
