16th June 2010, Shanghai – On a glorious sunny day the Nine Dragons Hill Polo Club and Shanghai Zeng Ai Charity Foundation co-hosted the third edition of the annual Consul General’s Cup tournament.  A celebration of the relationship between the most noble sport played in China and key members of the global diplomatic community; the event this year attracted just under 3,000 visitors.

This year there was a full program of horse racing, on the new grass race-track (the only turf race track in China). With the support of Mr. Cheng Qing of the National Sports Bureau, the aim of the day was to raise money for the Shanghai Zeng Ai Charity Foundation, whose president Mr. Hu Jin Xing also attended the event.

The polo competition was played in a league format with 6 teams competing with each other over 5 days; the competition eventually being decided in the final match with the German Team, lead by Ingo Beyer von Morgenstern  and sponsored by Porsche earning the top placing. All credit to this very strong team anchored by the star-professionals Lucas Talamoni and Federico von Potobsky. The 4th player, Anders Thulin, who owns the Stockholm polo club scored a wonderful goal in the final chukka, running the ball most of the length of the field and as a result earning the best amateur player award.

The 2nd placed team was team Italy, the title holders from 2009, the team entry being supported by Star-River Properties and the team built with 2 of the NDH Polo club members, Dino Asvaintra and Gerry Gan, the resident club professionals. The Consul-General of Italy, Mr. Massimo Roscigno gave tremendous support throughout the event but in the end had to accept that the 2010 competition belonged to the German team.

The Argentine Consul-General Francisco M. Ferro presented an award to the person who is regarded as having demonstrated the most sportsman like behavior, the award was presented to Mark Tocchini from the UK team for his unfaltering positive attitude and camaraderie with the players from all the teams and support to the organizers. The UK team, coming in 3rd place overall, were spurred on by the enthusiastic support of the team sponsor the Hurun Report; whose founder Rupert Hoogewerf led the cheering for the team from the VIP ‘Owners lounge’

Notable both for his entry into the tournament and world of polo as well as for the performances of his band which he himself led in the ‘Owners lounge’ was designer celebrity Simon Ma who created a team representing Hong Kong. Simon, his band, his celebrity friends and his team will surely be a driving force for polo in China into the future as Simon himself is now actively learning to play polo seeking to led his team on the field next year.

One of the first and most important patrons of polo in China, Brian Xu participated in the tournament with his team Noblesse, but it was not to be their year. A new patron, Bruno Wu of Sun Media, entered team China into the competition with the experience being a great learning opportunity and the creditable team performance creating a solid platform for the establishment of a new force in Polo in China. 

This year’s event is also held in memory of the late James Ashton (interim President of the Federation of International Polo, the world governing organization), carrying on the tradition that James established, the playing ratings of all the participants in the tournament were reassessed by the International Handicapping Committee after the tournament and as such Chinese and China based players may continue to move forward on the world stage.

Special thanks to all sponsors and guests for their support in furthering racing, polo and equestrian sports in China. Our appreciation extends but is not limited to: Royal Salute (and Pernod-Ricard China), Ma Design / M House, Lamborghini, Hurun Report, Polo Life, Rolls-Royce, Star River Properties, Lancel Paris , LAAAF, FIJI water, Sun Media Group, Noblesse, Clear Water Bay Properties, Mi Food, El Caballo Noble, Instone Asia, The Chinese equestrian association, Chinese Horse Industry Association, Zeng Ai Foundation, Premier Sport Marketing Asia, Hussars, and the NDH Polo/Marina/Golf Clubs.

Until next year!