Northeast China's prestigious Metropolitan Intervarsity Polo 2016 invitational tournament kicked off with a bang on July 12th afternoon, with teams from Oxford and Cornell universities chalking up impressive wins at the event also known as The London Challenge.
Taking place in the summer heat of the city of Tianjin the tournament, in its fourth year running, saw the local glitterati come out to watch Oxford University Polo Club show their vintage against debutants Skidmore Polo Club. Cornell Polo Club beat off the challenge of their fellow US university giants, Harvard University Polo Club.
Cornell go on to face The University of London Polo Club, who have won the tournament twice in a row, 13th July in the next round. Oxford's prize for today's win is an enticing match-up with their fellow Brits and traditional rivals The University of Cambridge Polo Club.
Cornell beat Harvard by a narrow margin, clocking up a 4-2.5 victory over four chukkas on the regal environment of the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club's South Field.
The Oxford team's polo history dates back to its foundation year of 1874, and today the players seemed to bear the weight of their legacy with ease as they began dominantly against Skidmore, the team based in Saratoga Springs in New York. However, the latter team, making their first appearance at the Tianjin tournament, gave an impressive if somewhat belated fightback that meant that it was not all plain sailing for the Oxford players.
Following Ryan Saul's standard-setting performance for Cornell, Oxford's Louis Maddison proved to be an even more decisive force, banging in six goals in the space of the game's four chukkas as Oxford won by 7.5 points to 5.
Both matches showcased top class international talent, and a glimpse of the future of Chinese players was given with an opening equestrian performance from young members of the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club. With the tone set for a fantastic week of polo, things should hot up even further with tomorrow's matches.
Metropolitan Intervarsity Polo 2016 - The London Challenge
Results: Day 1, July 12, 2016
Cornell vs Harvard 4-2.5 Oxford vs Skidmore 7.5-5
General Information of Metropolitan Intervarsity Polo 2016 - The London Challenge
Event Name: Metropolitan Intervarsity Polo 2016 – The London Challenge Date: 12.7.2016 -€“ 17.7.2016 (15.7.2016 is rest day) Venue: The South Polo Field, Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club, China Admission: By Invitation Organized by: Tianjin Polo Association; Hong Kong Polo Development and Promotion Federation; Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club Special Thanks: Fortune Heights Overseas Media Partner: Le Pan China Media Partner: Horsemanship Social Media Partner: Sina Weibo Participating Teams: - University of Cambridge - University of London - University of Oxford - Cornell University - Harvard University - Skidmore College
Northeast China's prestigious Metropolitan Intervarsity Polo 2016 invitational tournament kicked off with a bang on July 12th afternoon, with teams from Oxford and Cornell universities chalking up impressive wins at the event also known as The London Challenge.
Cornell go on to face The University of London Polo Club, who have won the tournament twice in a row, 13th July in the next round. Oxford's prize for today's win is an enticing match-up with their fellow Brits and traditional rivals The University of Cambridge Polo Club.
Following Ryan Saul's standard-setting performance for Cornell, Oxford's Louis Maddison proved to be an even more decisive force, banging in six goals in the space of the game's four chukkas as Oxford won by 7.5 points to 5.
