Khun Nunthinee Tanner is a woman of many facets. She is Managing Director of LBG Limited which represents Burberry, Thalgo, Valmont and many other brands here in Thailand. She manages the Paris Spas and has recently taken over the Metropolitan Museum of Art store growing it to 3 locations. She is an art collector and Thailand’s first female polo player. Recently, HOT Magazine had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Khun Nunthinee to discuss her passion for Polo.
Khun Nunthinee first started riding horses when she was 14 and has been playing polo for about the same number of years. An active promoter of the sport, she and fellow polo enthusiast Harold Link, who is Chairman of the B Grimm group of companies and President of the Southeast Asian Equestrian Federation, built the Thai Polo and Equestrian Club near Pattaya in 2005.
A world class facility on over 2,000 rai of beautifully landscaped grounds, the Club boasts three international-standard polo playing fields, two practice grounds and stabling for over 200 horses.
In 2007, renowned Australian designer Wayne Copping was given the task of establishing an international standard equestrian cross-country course which would be suitable as a venue for international events, such as the Southeast Asian Games. An Eventing course was designed by New Zealander John Nicholson, and this was used to host the inaugural Asia Eventing Championships. With the addition of an endurance course and an international Derby facility, the Thai Polo and Equestrian Club is now recognized as the largest multi-functional polo and equestrian operation in all of Asia.
The veterinary and quarantine facilities are second-to-none in the region, with a leading Argentinian vet acting as general manager of the complex, overseeing Argentinian, French and British as well as local farriers, trainers, and stable staff.
The Thai Polo and Equestrian Club also includes three clubhouses and the “Chukka Bar” which is a re-creation of the famous polo bar at the Langham Hotel in London. In fact, the original bar of the London Langham Club was purchased by Khun Nunthinee and re-assembled at the Chukka Bar when the Langham went through an extensive remodel.
According to Khun Nunthinee, “The General Manager of the Langham had recently arrived after managing the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok. We had become friends during his tenure at the Oriental and he told me the next time I was in London to stay at his Hotel. I did and one day he took me on a tour of the hotel describing the big remodel that was planned. When I asked what would happen to the bar and all of the memorabilia from the famous Polo lounge he said they would either be sold or trashed. I immediately said I’ll buy it! He asked, buy what? I said all of it. His staff meticulously packed everything in a container and shipped it to me here in Thailand. Once I opened the container I was amazed at the history of it all.” In addition to providing the contents for the Chukka Bar she also personally designed the magnificent clubhouses.
Through a chance meeting with Dr. Kris Chatamra, the Queen’s personal physician, they decided to raise funds for the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer by putting on The Queen’s Cup Pink Polo Tournament. Now in its seventh year, this much loved ladies charitable tournament is held at the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club. The Pink theme was chosen because that is the color that symbolizes the fight against breast cancer. Each year the clubhouse is decked out in pink and the spectators are encouraged to wear the color to show their support. According to Khun Nunthinee, “We hope that our event increases awareness of the threat that Breast Cancer poses to many women and at the same time we hope that our event will also introduce a new generation to the exciting game of polo.”
Being the first Thai woman to play polo, she says she wants to combine her passion for the sport with the ability to help women. “I am proud to be the first Thai woman to play polo. I think that it makes a good statement that women can excel given the opportunity to make a choice to do something with a passion. I want to share this opportunity with other women, which is why I think it is important to let people know about the tournament so that more women can join in this enthralling sport. Also, I want to assist women in need. Breast cancer is a disease that targets women. Given this opportunity, I think it is important to help women as much as I can. The donation to the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer is a good starting point in helping women afflicted with the disease. As much as playing polo can enhance the confidence in a woman, I want to be able to help women who are affected to regain their confidence and self-worth.”
Here in Hua Hin on April 25th, Khun Nunthinee along with Harold Link and Khun Suwat Liptapanlop are for the sixth year organizing the Asian Beach Polo Championship, on the beach in front of the InterContinental Hua Hin Resort. The only beach polo tournament in Asia, the event is also known as the Princess Pa’s Cup and benefits the Kamlangjai Project which was initiated by Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol. The Kamlangjai Project is a rehabilitation program that focuses on development and strengthening the willpower of female inmates and children being born to them in correctional institutions and to prepare them to be ready to live a new life outside prison.
As busy as Khun Nunthinee is, she still finds time on the weekends to organize kids polo and a horse riding program for Autistic children.
When asked if she had ever seen another favorite Hua Hin Polo event (until it moved to Bangkok last year), The King’s Cup Elephant Polo tournament she said “Yes I have seen Elephant Polo. I think it’s great fun but it cannot be compared to horse Polo, It’s a completely different game all together.”