Horse Power with stunning mountain backdrop – Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad.

During The Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad tournament, which takes place every year in mid-August, sporty Argentinians on racy Arabian horses chase across the field.If you like horses, Gstaad and its environs is the place to be.

 By Therese Alhaug. Photo by Amelie Bes

Since the inception of the Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad in 1996, polo has been a beloved local tradition in the Saanenland in Switzerland.

This year’s Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad saw record crowds in attendance. With three-days of action-packed polo including two sudden death chukkas, it was one of the most closely fought tournaments in the history of the event.

The welcomed sun shone down on the picturesque Gstaad-Saanen Airfield for the final day of the Hublot Polo Gold Cup, Gstaad. The clear blue skies presented the scenic views of the famous Swiss Alps, the perfect backdrop for Switzerland’s premier summer Polo Tournament and the packed crowds were treated to a gripping final which saw Shilai Liu’s Team Hublot claim the coveted trophy with a score of 6.5-6.

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The sound of Ferrari engines echoed across the valley as the match ball was carried onto the pitch by Pierre Genecand, President of the event. Later, the atmosphere was tense as the teams headed into a sudden death fifth chukka and it was Team Gstaad Palace who had the edge with a golden goal from Juan Pepa allowing them to claim a narrow 7-6 victory.

In between matches the spectators were able to take a breather from the polo and browse the luxury shopping village which featured luxury stands including My Style Bags, Hotspring Spas and for those with a sweet tooth, the Du Rhone Chocolatier. Throughout the day kids enjoyed a variety of activities including the petting zoo, bouncing castles and tightrope walking.

A not-to-be-missed event, the Hublot Polo Gold Cup in Gstaad is certainly one of the best-attended summer events in Switzerland!

ABOUT

The Gstaad-Saanenland holiday region in the Bernese Oberland attracts a charming mix of visitors: while the chalet village of Gstaad welcomes famous guests, the smaller neighboring villages offer attractive options for families with children. In recent years, the center of Gstaad has developed into the most popular and shortest “shopping mile” in Switzerland. With its top hotels, gourmet restaurants, luxury chalets and nearby Saanen airport, the car-free resort of Gstaad is a popular destination for international celebrities. The wide-open countryside of the Saanenland offers a versatile and diverse sports program also mid- summer, such as the Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad.

Therese Stub Alhaug

Editor

Therese is the editor of Equilife, and is truly dedicated to equestrian sports and horses. She started riding as a little girl, and enjoys her free time with her two horses back home. Portrait interview is her favorite topic, as it has the gift to inspire others through peoples stories, knowledge, training and general life-philosophy, and certainly, their lives with horses.

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