Mon 18th Jan 2016Brits Boss It In Austria 14th Valartis Bank Snow Polo World Cup
The Final of the Valartis Bank Snow Polo World Cup took place in frosty Kitzbühel, Austria, under a steady dusting of snow on Sunday 17 January 2016. After a full on and fun-filled weekend, it was an all-English line-up that took the title, stealing the Final from under the noses of the opposition. Team Engel & Völkers' Johnny Good, Katrina Thomas and Alec Banner-Eve fought hard against Valartis Bank, playing against the odds, which saw handicap disadvantages for the over handicapped English team. Alec Banner-Eve commented after the match, "We were quite up against it, as they decided to make the tournament off our arena handicaps (the only snow polo tournament to do this). With none of the other countries taking arena handicapping as seriously as England, it meant all other teams were only 3 off of their outside handicap, as opposed to our team which was 7, with Johnny off 8 and me off 4 goals. This just annoyed Johnny though, and he went harder than ever!" Despite the half goal advantage given to Valartis Bank, it was Engel & Völkers who set the pace of the game, breaking away from the off, with two early goals from 8 goaler Johnny Good. Valartis Bank soon caught up and the match remained neck and neck until the final chukka, the tension and excitement warming the frozen onlookers. With just half a goal in it going in to the final chukka, Valartis Bank hoped to close down the opposition and carry their advantage to the end, but it was not to be as a last-minute goal from Engel & Völkers meant a dramatic finish and a close 5-4½ win for the English team. Alec Banner-Eve spoke to Polo Times after the match, explaining, "We were the only UK representatives playing, and all on the same team. Johnny was out of this world unstoppable and I did a bit of crashing and bashing, but the show stealer was Kat Thomas in the Final. She broke away at four or five key moments and got MVP as a result! There were six teams, including Germany's best female and male players, plus some Open players like Julio Novillo Astrada, but we came out on top, winning the Final by half a goal. The tournament was run to perfection. The best polo event I have been to or seen anywhere around the world. The hospitality was mind blowing, we felt like film stars!" In earlier matches, Istra Domizil/Blackdove took on KCC/GymEntry in a battle for third and fourth place. Last year's winning team of Sebastian Schneberger, Philip de Groot and Julio Novillo Astrada were forced to be content with fourth place as they succumbed to KCC/GymEntry's better play, 12½-8. Fifth place went to Team Audi, who defeated Bernd Gruber by 5½-4. Mare, Chismosa, played and owned by Tito Gaudenzi, was awarded Best Playing Pony while the Most Valuable Player prize went to England's very own Katrina Thomas. For the full list of teams click here. The 14th Valartis Bank Snow Polo World Cup Final teams: Team Engel & Völkers (13): Katrina Thomas 1, Alec Banner-Eve (4) & Johnny Good (8) Team Valartis Bank (12): Omar Magalji (2), Pelon Escapite (7) & Reto Mario 'Tito' Gaudenzi (3) Result: Team Engel & Völkers beat Team Valartis Bank, 5-4½ Photograph: Brit line-up, Team Engel & Völkers, defeat opposition to win Austria's Snow Polo World Cup. By Reinhardt & Sommer
 | 
Contact us 
Tue 23rd Apr 2024
Mon 22nd Apr 2024
Fri 19th Apr 2024
Wed 17th Apr 2024
Mon 15th Apr 2024
Thu 11th Apr 2024
Wed 10th Apr 2024
Tue 9th Apr 2024
Mon 8th Apr 2024
Wed 3rd Apr 2024
Tue 2nd Apr 2024
Mon 1st Apr 2024
Tue 26th Mar 2024
