King's Cup Elephant Polo returns to Hua Hin

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King's Cup Elephant Polo returns to Hua Hin

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King's-Cup-Elephant-Polo-El.jpg
Anantara Announces 2011 King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament Dates

The highly popular King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament will be celebrating its tenth anniversary this year and will be moving to the royal seaside town of Hua Hin in Thailand. The event which will bring the best of the last decade of the popular sporting event will take place from September 5 to September 11 and promises to have nail-biting action both on and off field.

The event will see a number of teams go trunk to trunk to win the coveted King's Cup trophy. The tournament was introduced to Thailand in 2001 by Anantara Resorts and is a charitable event that raises money for the benefit of all Thailand’s elephants.

Now in its tenth year the King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament has gone from a small two-day event with six teams into a week-long extravaganza, which in 2010 featured 12 teams from four continents, encompassing 40 players from at least 15 countries.

To date the tournament has raised over US$300,000 primarily for the National Elephant Institute, which provides medical care, sustenance, employment, and mahout training to Thailand’s elephant population. In recent years, the funds were used to custom build and run an elephant ambulance as well as provide housing at the Centre’s elephant hospital allowing it to offer free accommodation as well as medical treatment to any sick elephants in Thailand; these funds also provided a mobile veterinary centrifuge for their mobile elephant clinic. Proceeds from the 2009 and 2010 tournaments have been used to ‘rescue rent’ five street elephants to be trained in occupational therapy as part of a joint Thai Elephant Conservation Centre, Chiang Mai University project investigating the benefits of using elephants to treat Autism.

It is estimated that Thailand has around 3,600 domesticated elephants and 1,500 wild elephants. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) fully endorses the King’s Cup Elephant Polo tournament, having identified it as one of the country’s prime annual special events. It will take place on grounds adjacent to Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa, and spectator entrance is free.

For more information on King’s Cup Elephant Polo, please visit website anantaraelephantpolo.com Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa is a distinctive Thai village-style resort located on the sunrise coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Hidden amidst 14 acres of luxuriantly landscaped mature gardens and lagoon pools, the picturesque resort enjoys a beachfront location at the quiet end of Thailand’s historic royal seaside town. For more information please visit website anantara.com.

For media enquiries, please contact Anantara Group Public Relations Office: Tel: + 66 2725 6104-5

Source: Hua Hin 4U
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Re: King's Cup Elephant Polo returns to Hua Hin

Post by hhfarang »

This is a really fun event and I'm happy to hear it is returning to Hua Hin. We went to it the first couple of years we lived here and were sadly disappointed when it was moved to another location. There are tents (with chairs) set up by leading hotels and restaurants who sponsor the event that provide lots of good food and drink. There are elephant rides and other elephant shows and activities for the kids too. It raises money for a worthy cause so go see it! :thumb:

Photos from the last time it was here:

The elephants coming in through town before the event began -
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The scoreboard -
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Baby elephant artist -
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Action on the field -
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Is hooking the opponent's mallet legal? -
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Goooooaaaaaal!!!!! (or whatever you say in Polo) -
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Re: King's Cup Elephant Polo returns to Hua Hin

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2011 King’s Cup Elephant Polo Official Programme
4th until 11th September 2011 at Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa


Saturday, September 3rd
All Day Elephant Polo Practice

Sunday, September 4th
8am – 4pm Practice Sessions
2pm – 5pm Chang Noi Day at Anantara
7pm Welcome Cocktail & Gala at Anantara Hua Hin

Monday, September 5th
8am – 1oam Practice Sessions
10.15am Elephant Polo Parade
11.00am Elephant Blessing Ceremony by Khru Ba Yai Monks
12 noon Opening Match
1pm-2pm Lunch at Polo Pitch
3pm - 6pm Matches All Afternoon
7pm Dinner at Leisure

Tuesday, September 6th
8am – 12pm Matches All Morning
12 noon - 1pm Lunch at Polo Pitch
1pm EFG Jim Edwards Memorial Match
3pm Mahout Game
4pm Press Match
5pm Practice Sessions
7pm Dinner at Leisure

Wednesday, September 7th
8am – 12pm Matches All Morning
12 noon - 1pm Lunch at Polo Pitch
2pm – 6pm Matches All Afternoon
7.45pm TEPA Players’ Night

Thursday, September 8th
8am – 12pm Matches All Morning
12 noon - 1pm Lunch at Polo Pitch
2pm – 6pm Matches All Afternoon
7pm Dinner at Leisure

Friday, September 9th
8am – 12pm Matches All Morning
12 noon – 2.3pm CEO Business Media Luncheon at Polo Pitch
1pm Quarter Final One
3pm Quarter Final Two
4pm Quarter Final Three
5pm Quarter Final Four
7pm Dinner at Leisure

Saturday, September 10th
8am Semi Final Match
9am “Escape The Wooden Spoon” Match
10am “Fight Your Way To Mid-Table” Match
11am “Punch Above Your Weight” Match
12 noon – 2pm Lunch at Polo Pitch
2pm “Last Chance at Glory” Match
3pm “Best Of The Rest” Match
4pm Semi Final One
5pm Semi Final Two
7pm King’s Cup Elephant Polo Grand Gala Evening & Auction

Sunday, September 11th
8am “Wooden Spoon” Match
9am “Springboard From The Bottom” Match - 13th Place Decider
10am “Knocking On The Door” Match – 11th Place Decider
11am “Relegation Worries Over” Match - 9th Place Decider
12 noon – 1pm Lunch at Polo Pitch
1pm “Look How Far We’ve Come” Match - 7th Place Decider
2pm “Mid-Table Heroes” Match - 5th Place Decider
3pm “Best Of The Rest, We’ll Get It Next Year” Match - 3rd Place Decider
4pm King’s Cup Elephant Polo Grand Final 2011
5pm Arrival of Royal Representative
5.30pm Prize Giving Ceremony
6.30pm onwards Farewell Party at the Field

More info: http://www.anantaraelephantpolo.com
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Re: King's Cup Elephant Polo returns to Hua Hin

Post by JW »

Great event, really good crack. Seeing the guys collecting the Chang poop during the game is one of the funniest things you will ever see, bloody huge buckets they have! :shock:
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Re: King's Cup Elephant Polo returns to Hua Hin

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The games are well worth a visit for the whole family... kids love it as there are other activities outside the polo matches for them (if same as when it was here before). Matches themselves are very slow as you might imagine but funny to watch.
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Re: King's Cup Elephant Polo returns to Hua Hin

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After a three-year stint in Chiang Rai, Thailand's King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament is celebrating its 10th anniversary by returning to where it all started -- Hua Hin.

Thailand’s oddest annual sporting event, the King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament will take place from September 5-11. The week-long tourney attracts teams from all over the world.

According to the World Elephant Polo Association, the rules are similar to those of horse polo however there are some key differences.

All elephants carry a player and a mahout (elephant trainer/guide), ladies are allowed to use both hands and mallets are around two meters long.

Each team is made up of three players and their four-legged accomplice on a marked pitch of 100 meters by 60 meters, using a standard polo ball.

The event is sponsored and organized by luxury resort Anantara Hua Hin, so there are dozens of events taking place off the field at the hotel including cocktails, parties, Chang Noi Day -- from which all the proceeds will go towards elephant therapy sessions to help autistic children -- and a celebrity auction.

New teams taking part in this year's King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament include players from the New Zealand All Blacks rugby squad and European royalty.

Anantara is offering a special package for anyone who wants to experience the King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament.

Source: CNNgo
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Elephant Polo. Where is the Suriyothai Army Camp?

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Can't find a map. I know there are two military bases in the area, one south of town and one north. Don't know which one is Suriyothai or where they are exactly.
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Re: Elephant Polo. Where is the Suriyothai Army Camp?

Post by barrys »

Homer wrote:Can't find a map. I know there are two military bases in the area, one south of town and one north. Don't know which one is Suriyothai or where they are exactly.
It's south of town.
Go past the Sea Pines army petrol station on your left and it's a couple of hundred metres further on the right.
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Re: King's Cup Elephant Polo returns to Hua Hin

Post by hhfarang »

Suriyothai
Where did you get that location. In the first post it says adjacent to the Anantera resort... and I read somewhere else that they were building a special stadium for the event next to the resort.

If anyone knows exactly where it is I would like specifics. I even looked at the web site and didn't see any obvious information about the location of the event. Typical of an event planned in Thailand. Finding the specifics can be very frustrating... :roll:
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Re: King's Cup Elephant Polo returns to Hua Hin

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hhfarang wrote:
Suriyothai
If anyone knows exactly where it is I would like specifics.... :roll:
We received an email from Siam Winery (one of the sponsors of the event) saying that it was being held at the Suriyothai base. Herself also just phoned the Anantara and they confirmed that the venue is Suriyothai for the entire event.
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Re: King's Cup Elephant Polo returns to Hua Hin

Post by hhfarang »

It's south of town.
Go past the Sea Pines army petrol station on your left and it's a couple of hundred metres further on the right.
barrys wrote:
hhfarang wrote:
Suriyothai
If anyone knows exactly where it is I would like specifics.... :roll:
We received an email from Siam Winery (one of the sponsors of the event) saying that it was being held at the Suriyothai base. Herself also just phoned the Anantara and they confirmed that the venue is Suriyothai for the entire event.
Thanks Barry, that sounds like the same place they held it six years ago when we last went. :cheers:
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Re: King's Cup Elephant Polo returns to Hua Hin

Post by barrys »

Thanks Barry, that sounds like the same place they held it six years ago when we last went. :cheers:[/quote]


Yep, that's exactly where it is :D enjoy
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Re: King's Cup Elephant Polo returns to Hua Hin

Post by Takiap »

I was under the impression it was being held at Anantara Resort?


Has the venue been changed? How about the dates?



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Re: King's Cup Elephant Polo returns to Hua Hin

Post by hhfarang »

That's exactly what I was getting at Takiap. Promoters of events here have no idea how to advertise so that the public knows the schedule and location. This one put out a lot of bad information about the location. If they get the location wrong, what chance do they have of a good turnout!

The thing is, when we went in 2005 there were nearly no spectators there. This was very pleasant for us because there were no crowds at the attractions, plenty of seating at the events and at the food tents, but the event itself was a failure, hence they moved it to Chiang Mai for a few years. I guess they miss-promoted it there too so now they are doing it all over again in Hua Hin.

The reason it was a failure in both places was the failure of the promoters and advertisers as is the case with a lot of events here.
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Re: King's Cup Elephant Polo returns to Hua Hin

Post by barrys »

Yes, it's all very confusing.
The Anantara has the latest schedule on its website:


2011 King’s Cup Elephant Polo Official Programme
5th - 11th September 2011
at Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa
Monday, September 5th
11am Monk & Elephant Blessing Ceremonies, Grand Parade & Elephant Buffet
2pm Thai Elephant Polo Association (TEPA) Vs World Elephant Polo Association (WEPA)
3pm

Exhibition & Practice Matches
7pm

Tournament Draw & Cocktail Party at Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa**

Tuesday, September 6th
10am Matches All Morning
2pm Matches All afternoon
4pm The A.V. Jim Edwards Memorial Game - EFG Team 1 Vs EFG Team 2
7pm A Night in the Wild at Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa**
Till Late Players Lounge with Live Music at Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa

Wednesday, September 7th
10am Matches All Morning
12.30pm The Veuve Clicquot Hoteliers Cup – Team 1 Vs Team 2
2pm Matches All Afternoon
7pm Asian Spice Market Buffet Dinner at Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa**
7.45pm TEPA Players’ Night at Marriott Hua Hin Resort & Spa*
Till Late Players Lounge with Live Music at Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa

Thursday, September 8th
10am Matches All Morning
12.30pm The Dilmah Mahout Championship – Mahout Team 1 Vs Mahout Team 2
2pm Matches All Afternoon
7pm Topsy-Turvy’ Wine Dinner at Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa **
Till Late Players Lounge with Live Music at Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa

Friday, September 9th
10am Matches All Morning
12.30pm The Siam Winery Ladies Cup – Spice Girls Vs Sara Story Design
2pm Quarter Final One
3pm Quarter Final Two
4pm Quarter Final Three
5pm Quarter Final Four
7pm Bubbly Reef & Beef Buffet at Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa**
Till Late Players Lounge with Live Music at Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa

Saturday, September 10th
8am Semi-Final playoff Match
9am “Escape The Wooden Spoon” Match
10am “Fight Your Way To Mid-Table” Match
11am “Punch Above Your Weight” Match
2pm “Last Chance at Glory” Match
3pm “Best Of The Rest” Match
3pm CEO High-Tea*
4pm Semi Final One
5pm Semi Final Two
7pm Grand Gala Blanc et Noir Auction Soiree at Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa**

Sunday, September 11th
8am “Wooden Spoon” Match
9am “Knocking On The Door” Match – 11th Place Decider
10am “Relegation Worries Over” Match - 9th Place Decider
11am “Look How Far We’ve Come” Match - 7th Place Decider
12pm “Mid-Table Heroes” Match - 5th Place Decider
2pm “Best Of The Rest, We’ll Get It Next Year” Match - 3rd Place Decider
3pm Arrival of Royal Representative
4pm King’s Cup Elephant Polo Grand Finale 2011
4.30pm Prize Giving Ceremony
5.30pm End of Tournament


Pitch side eateries serving favourite culinary delights ­­­all day

* By invitation only
** To avoid disappointment advance booking is recommended

For Further information & bookings
Call: +66 (0)32 520 250 or
Email: gqureshi@anantara.com


Although it says "at the Anantara" all the polo matches are being held at the Suriyothai army base.
It's only the evening functions that are taking place at the Anantara itself.
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