Polo: Amsterdam Polo Trophy 2006

Yesterday was the second try to see some polo (and poloplayers) in the Netherlands. A vew months ago I visited Anna with the intention to visit horses by the sea, but that event was canceled due weather conditions. So yesterday some poloplayers visited Amsterdam (Amsterdamse Bos) and Anna and I were there to watch them.

The moning started sticky and cloudy and with some raindrops. After I picked up Anna of Muiderpoort trainstation and we dressed up to the dress code we left for the train to Amsterdam Amstel to get the bus over there to the Amsterdamse Bos (the woods of Amsterdam...) As soon as we got out of the bus, it started to rain (yeps you can start laughing, always when it should be nice weather it starts to rain) and as soon as we got on the pologround it started to rain even harder. Luckily we could sit dry, but we had to pray for better weather conditions....

With a delay of 45 minutes the tournament started and although there were still lots of clouds there was no rain anymore. First match was Al Metejon Polo Ranch (red shirts) against Porsche Centrum Amsterdam (yellow shirts). A quick introduction:

El Metejon Polo Ranch = Harry van Andel (0), Martin Hartman (-1), Julio Bouchon (4) and Armand van Eken.

Porsche Centrum Amsterdam = Brenda de Boer (0), Edward de Kroes (2), Nicky Grooss (2), Carlitos Ortiz Centenno(1).

Probalby due to the slippery underground the game started very soft. No quick actions and all together at a square meter. Not a lot of excitement, but as the chukka's past by (four instead of the normal six, at least I believe there are six) the game got better.

After the first match all the people had to entere the polo zone (treading in) and put some grass back in place. As we had the perfect spots we decided to eat some food and watch the people and think who that hot guy could be we saw passing by before the first match (...we though it must be a number two...and it was a number two, but it was one of the umpires... who was already in the match at the first match...must be the helmets that makes them unrecognizable)

After repreparing the grass, the Veuve Clicquot Ladies Race (pretty obvious I am not moving around this people, did not know thatVeuve Clicquot = champagne brand ) and some more waiting match number. As there were already tons of kids around at the first match, I am still surprised were they were coming from at the start of the second match... Their number was increasing steadily and the noise they were making tripled. And on top of that, a mother was screaming at them over my head.... and it took here a while before she realised it.. If you want to take your kids with you get there in time and keep an eye on them or leave them with the au pair (they really where there, the au pairs).

Anyway, second match. Scapa Sports (blue shirts) against Rolex (green shirts).

Scapa sports: Michael Redding (2), Gerry de Cloedt (1), Luis Saenz (3), Kiki Grooss (-1)

Rolex: Jim Souren(0), Peter Holsbeek(0), Aki van Andel (3), Niels van Baasbeek (2).

At first I was thinking about cheering for the blue shirts.... because who the hell goes for green (and one had yellow bandages....) but soon (after I told some kids to sit still and shut up...which helped for three seconds) I changed sides and starting to cheer for green. They played with way more attitude. I wasn't jumping around, but it game close! Great match...want to see more of this ones... made me think of the ones I saw in Argentina..... Just great!

The green team- Rolex - won the match in the last minute. It was tight, but it was so great, a perfect ending of the day. To put some cream on top of it, we stayed to watch the ceremony. Watch the umpire and all the polo players, what a treat (well, at least some of them hahahaha).

And what about the public? I would be suprised if everybody has seen some polo, guess there was a lot of networking going on. Maybe I should do some next time (yeh right, nice try).

PS: best player of the day, just through my eyes, was Aki (Alexander) van Andel. Strangest player the guy with the snowboard on wheels. How desperate for attention can you be (or how much free time can you have??).....