Singapore in full swing

The polo competition was played over the Saturday and Sunday, with all three teams displaying a high level of horsemanship and ball skills, mixed with a prevailing air of respect for each other and admirable sporting conduct. 

After the first day of play the home team, Thailand, finished in a commanding position, having beaten China by 6 goals to 3 and Singapore by 4 goals to 2 in their respective encounters. However, fortune did not shine on the host side as their star player, Tim Ward, took ill over night and despite brave attempts he was declared unfit to play the finals on the Sunday. It was Singapore and China that both emerged strongly on the finals day, having had the benefit of Saturday's play to adapt to their new mounts and fast playing conditions of the immaculate Thai polo club fields. Both of the visiting teams managed to dispatch a weakened Thai quartet, who had been forced to substitute their Captain, before facing each other in the climatic final.  Singapore, growing with confidence every moment, took the initiative early in the match with a spectacular goal from the stick of Melissa Thiernan, who was ably supported with some strong marking from her team mate Claudia Zeisberger.  However the China contingent fought back bravely with tenacious ball skills from  their Captain, Steve Wyatt, and crowd pleasing break away goals from the accurate forwards of the Chinese team. In the end, though, it was the superior strategy of the Singapore side, which featured the only two lady players in the whole competition, ably captained by Shaik Reismann, which proved too large a mountain to climb for China.  By the final bell of the encounter, Singapore, the deserving winners, had clocked up a score of 10 goals to China's 6, recording a resounding victory.

The Thai Polo and Equestrian Club kindly donated the trophies, with some special commemorative gifts for the visiting teams, who all agreed that the Asian League initiative must continue and that the tourament is sure to grow in future years.