On April 25th, in front of the InterContinental Resort Hua Hin & Spa, the sixth annual Asian Beach Polo Championship took place. Asia’s only beach polo event, teams from Thailand, India, Hong Kong and Macau came together to play polo and raise money for Princess Pa’s Kamlangjai Project.
One of Hua Hin’s favorite yearly events got off to a stormy start as a rain squall blew thru the polo grounds just prior to the 2:30 opening. Once the storm passed guests enjoyed the pleasant cool weather which was a far departure from last year’s 45 degree heat.
The day started with a horse parade led by Mr. Harald Link and proceeded to horse racing which guests could bet on with money going to charity. Next up was a fashion show on horseback with fashion’s from leading designer’s including; Longchamp, Emilio Pucci, The Metropolitan, Diane von Furstenberg, La Martina, Silsupa and Chateau de sable.
But the big draw of the day was Polo and this year it was Thailand against India in the final. The exciting match was hard fought but after threee Chukka’s, each 7 minutes long, it was Team Thailand who took the trophy with the score 7 to 0. Team Thailand was led by Harald Link with teammates Jean Louis Graindorge and Suphachai Sukhampha.
Once again Bangkok’s high society descended on Hua Hin to enjoy the sophistication of Polo. Spotted were His Excellency Enno Drofenik, the Austrian Ambassador to Thailand along with M.L.Poonyanuch Kashemsanta; Anutin Charnvirakul; Panarat Bunnag; Weera Sriwathanatrakoon; Proudputh Liptapanlop; Chanadda Chirathivat; Matunart Sosothikul; Thawin P.Siaotong and many more.
The daytime festivities were only half of the fun as that evening there was a great party on the lawn of the InterContinental. The food was plentiful and tasty and accompanied by wine or cocktails. This year’s event saw an old-time Volkswagen van which had been converted into a bar serving delicious cocktails with terrific flair by the bartenders.
During the evening there was an auction of several paintings. The first one, “Beach Polo” was purchased for 200,000 Baht by Khun Suwat Liptapanlop. The second one was of eight horses running along the Hua Hin beach at sunset and was purchased by Norasak Senaveenin with the winning bid of 150,000 Baht. The highlight of the auction though was the last painting which was of the newlyweds His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen on a train during their first visit to Hua Hin. Raucous applause was given when Harald Link offered the top bid at 250,000 Baht. The 3 winning bidders paid a total of 600,000 Baht that went towards the Kamlangjai Project charity.
An evening fashion show was next and then Academy Fantasia 1 winner Pachrapon Jantieng wowed the crowd with songs by Frank Sinatra and Michael Buble and then got the crowd dancing with his Michael Jackson reportoire. The dancing continued with the DJ who was up next.
The price to enjoy the whole day was just 1,000 baht which included free food, drinks and entertainment both during the day and at the night time party. Most people attending have been coming for years and many commented that it was the best year yet, made even better because it was all for charity.
Initiated by HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the Kamlangjai Project, the benefactor for the day, was set up to reach out to women in incarceration to give them the tools and support to better integrate into Thai society.
The Asian Beach Polo Championship is organized every year by Khun Suwat Liptapanlop, former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand along with Khun Nunthinee Tanner, Thailand’s first female polo player and Mr. Harald Link, Chairman of the B. Grim Group & President of the Thailand Equestrian Federation.
Day Festivities
Night Festivities
