The Trophies

This past Sunday I had the chance to be present at the Diamond Missbach Polo Cup tournament organized by the newly inaugurated Monte-Carlo Polo Club (MCPC) under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert of Monaco in the complex of Devens in Beausoleil, a truly Franco-Monegasque project.  The four-day paddock polo extravaganza that also included an intense social program was the fruit of the hard preparation work of Francesco Mitrano, President of the MCPC and Marina Missbach of Missbach Jewellery. Among the distinguished noble guests who were present it is important to mention Her Imperial and Royal Highness the Archduchess of Austria Camile D’Habsburg, Lothringen Toscana, Princess of Hungary and Florence, and from Spain the honourable Susana de Rovira de Benaiges and international press authority, Ramon Baiget Viale de Montebello, polo player Peter Lyden esq., Director of the Natural History Museum of New York and many more.  Commentator Chris Carr, who is an ex polo player, carried the public through the exciting games, never biased towards one team. In between the matches there was a Ladies Hats Contest with many interesting entries and three winners selected by a jury composed of businessman Risvan Babayev of Azerbaijan who is a supporter of the club,

Gerard Spinelli with three contestants

The three winners of the Ladies Hats Contest with (from left to right) Risvan Babayev, David Shilling and Gerard Spinelli

Beausoleil Mayor Gerard Spinelli and no other than famous English fashion designer David Schilling known for creating extravagant hats made to order. And finally well into the early evening the awards ceremony took place where all the finalists received a trophy with the top prize going to the Missbach team made of Monegasque resident Francesco Mitrano, Bryan Lynam from Ireland and the experienced Argentine player Francisco Menendez who had the highest handicap of 7.

The victorious Missbach team with Francisco Menendez,, Bryan Lynam, Francisco Mitrano, Bryan Lynam, Miss Beausoleil Gerard Spinelli and his wife, and Chris Carr

The festivities culminated with a gala dinner at the Monte-Carlo Beach Club in the presence of Jacques Boisson, Secretary of State of the Prince of Monaco and his wife Carmen who joined the other personalities from Monaco and abroad.  The acclaimed and versatile Welsh tenor Stephen Mullan delighted the guests singing Opera excerpts.  Proceeds from a live auction and tombola benefited the Monegasque association Ecoute Cancer Reconfort that provides moral or financial support to suffering patients and their families. The MCPC plans to hold more exciting polo matches, stay tuned.

The Players

Difference between traditional and paddock polo: Traditional polo is played with four players by team. A game is divided in 4 to 8 “chukkers”, periods of 7 minutes. Between chukkers, the players change horses to let them rest. Indeed, accelerations, breakings and turns are very intense. Two horses minimum are required for one polo player (playing four chukkers). A player will need 6 horses (or even 8) for high goal matches. The grass field is huge: 300 yards long and 160 yards wide. Eventually the ball is made of wood or resin and it has a diameter of 8.5cm. Polo season is usually in summer, horses rest during winter. As for paddock polo, there are 3 players in each team, they do not change horse during a match. A game is played in two periods of ten minutes. The ball with a 12.5cm diameter, is made of leather.

Model Alexia at the Polo

Photos by: Celina Lafuente de Lavotha

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Zsolt Emil Lavotha and Celina Lafuente de Lavotha are with Her Imperial and Royal Highness the Archduchess of Austria Camilla D’Habsburg