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Published: September 12th 2011
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Mercedes steal
A Mercedes player steals the ball from Soco Working at The Siam has opened my eyes to a lot of new things and has given me the chance to learn a lot about the industry that I plan on going into. One thing however, that took my completely by surprise and is about as removed from opening a hotel as cricket is to rugby, was the chance to go and watch the final days of the 2011 King’s Cup Elephant Polo tournament!
Prior to coming to Bangkok I didn’t even know this sport existed, I had heard from my friend and fellow intern that our GM played polo but didn’t think much of it. It was only when he told me the nature of the polo that I really started to pay attention. Polo… on elephants… You have to be kidding me! Trying to picture players riding elephants up and down a pitch chasing a ball wasn’t easy, elephants aren’t known for their speed or maneuverability but when I got there I was really put in my place.
Elephant polo is a real nail-biter of a sport as you cheer from the sidelines. Watching the lumbering weight of the enormous beasts as the mahouts react to the players’
GOAL!
Soco scores a goal commands and then pass them on to the elephants to hit the ball from one end of the pitch to the other, or merely chip the ball over the trunk of an opposing elephant. Teams are comprised of three players per side, each with their own elephant and being driven by a mahout so for a team to be truly effective the players must communicate clearly with their mahouts, it was apparent with some of the games that there was a breakdown in communication as elephants wandered aimlessly or in the wrong direction, only adding to the excitement!
We arrived at the field in time to see our General Manager play his game against the Mercedes Benz team. The game was full to bursting with excitement as each team battled it out. Mercedes would launch a blistering attack, only to be turned back by a solid Soco defense which would see a turnaround and put the German car manufacturer on the defensive, the end score was a well deserved 3-3 draw, with neither team managing to get a firm grip of the lead.
Unfortunately, after that game the sky darkened, somebody had upset the Gods of elephant polo
Blue Label Spectators
Players from the Blue Label team on standby with spare mallets and dark clouds rolled in. Fortunately for us though, when the rain started coming down, we managed to get stuck under the Johnnie Walker Blue Label tent, where the bar had just opened and the drinks had started flowing. The rest of the afternoon saw us enjoying some tasty cocktails meeting some really interesting people from all over the world who all share a love of this incredible sport. The rain didn’t last for too long though and once the pitch was deemed safe for the elephants, play resumed. With the PWC All Blacks going head to head against the British Army. This was a real treat of a match as we got to witness the first ever All Blacks Hakka on elephant back, with just two genuine All Blacks players it was still enough to send shivers down my spine and certainly instilled fear in the British Army team, though not enough to counter their years of military discipline.
Animal rights groups have protested in the past against elephant polo, saying that it is cruel on the elephants but from having watched the sport and witnessed the respect shown by the players and organizers towards these enormous animals
PWC All Black v British Army
Players from the PWC All Blacks team line up with the British Army team it is clear that they are treated well and not put in any danger, had the field been too wet the games would have been cancelled. The sport is also more than just a spectacle, it is also a very successful fund raiser for the Golden Triangle Elephant Foundation and in the 10 years since elephant polo started in Thailand, it has raised more than 9 million Baht through it’s gala dinners and various fundraising events, this money goes to the preservation of the Asian elephant and is put towards caring for these majestic beasts which are so revered in Thailand.
The last day of the tournament was even more exciting, with only the strongest teams left standing and more than a few upsets with some underdogs rising up above the favorites. One such team was a girls team from the States, Sara Story Design playing in the quarter final against the tournament favorites Audemars Piguet. It was a riveting game, with players almost falling out of their saddles as they reached for the ball to just get ahead of the opposition. The ladies played a fantastic game and managed to keep ahead of the AP, despite being teamed
Sara Story Design
A player from Sara Story Design reaches out to secure the ball by India’s top two horse polo players, fantastic though, wasn’t enough and when the gong tolled the score was a 7-6 to the Swiss watch maker. Despite the close defeat the girls’ spirits were high as they had exceeded all expectations and had really put the reining champs to the test.
Again though, after the game the clouds rolled in and we all huddled under the tents. As this is the King’s Cup, a representative of the King himself was due to arrive for the finals but was delayed due to the weather, when he did arrive though it was a big thing. An entourage of cars and a host of military and high-ranking area officials preceded the representative and when he arrived all attending stood to attention as the King’s song was played.
Due to the rain, and because they do care about the elephant’s safety, the game was cancelled and it was decided that a sudden death penalty shootout would have to suffice. Audemars Piguet, the reigning champions versus King Power, Thailand’s largest duty free shop. A real clash of titans. King Power shot first and missed by a hair’s breadth. Audemars Piguet had the next
Champions
Audemars Piguet waiting to receive the King's Cup shot and the ball rocketed between the posts. The following four two shots from each team saw the ball fly neatly through the goal, putting the final score for the King’s Cup 2011 at 3-2 for Audemars Piguet, champions once again.
I was so thrilled to be a part of the tournament, even if it was only in a spectating capacity and really hope that I get another chance to watch the sport again, the world cup is held in Nepal, where teams from all over the world converge on the Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge to battle it out for the cup. For anyone who has never heard of the sport or is still skeptical about it’s existence, go to www.elephantpolo.com and check it out for yourself as it is really a sport worth watching!
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Xiomara
non-member comment
This sounds amazing tarks! glad you got the opportunity to see it!