Polo, Penfolds and Pachyderms – All the Fun
at the 2011 King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament

 
A fun and ferocious week of elephant polo was topped off by a charity gala dinner at Anantara Hua Hin, attended by teams from all over the world as well as special VIP guests.

From September 5th to September 11th, twelve elite teams from all around the world descended upon the royal seaside town of Hua Hin in Thailand and battled it out for the championship of this unique sport. The tournament, held at Hua Hin's Suriyothai army base, offered up a showcase of skillful play and plenty of memorable moments, on and off the pitch.

Expanding in popularity, the King’s Cup Elephant Polo tournament, celebrating its 10th anniversary, has gone from a small two day event in 2001 with six teams to a week-long extravaganza featuring twelve teams from four continents. More than fifty players including the New Zealand All Black’s Robin Brooke and Charles Riechelmann and Royals Prince Carl-Eugen, Princess Anna and Princess Yoanna Oettingen-Wallerstein of Germany.  

A charity gala dinner at Anantara Hua Hin, included VIP guests - super models Cindy Bishop and Lookade Kingpayome, singers Krisada Clapp and Yuyee, TAT Governor Mr Suraphon Svetasreni, the Ambassador of Switzerland, H.E. Christine Schraner Burgener, Oliviero Bottinelli of Audemars Piguet and Bill Heinecke CEO of Minor International- raised a generous 3.1 million baht at the gala dinner which will be used to benefit the lives of domesticated and wild elephants in Thailand.

Picture from left;
1.  Mr Suraphon Svetasreni, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand
2.  Mr William E. Heinecke, Chief Executive Officer of Minor International PCL
3.  H.E. Christine Schraner Burgener – Ambassador of Switzerland
4.  Mr Jira Phongphaiboon, Hua Hin Mayor