Monte-Carlo Polo Cup 2013
Francesco Mitrano (-1) and his teammates Bryan Lynam (0) and Francisco Menendez (+7) are the winners of the first Monte Carlo Polo Tournament. In the final match against team Barclays with Ivan Weiss (+1), Darek Gardener (0) und Facundo Llorente (+4), the team Missbach gained a tight victory by 9-8,5. Both teams fought until the last minute to win the Diamond Missbach Polo Cup.
Her Imperial and Royal Highness Archduchess of Austria Camilla Habsburg-Lothringen, Princess of Florence, presented Francesco Mitrano with the Missbach Cup. For Francesco Mitrano, founder and president of the newly founded Monte Carlo Polo Club, it was a double victory, as he also successfully organized the first tournament of the Monte Carlo Polo Club in Monaco. Archduchess of Austria Camilla Habsburg-Lothringen also attended every game, as well as the gala dinner to benefit the Association Ecoute Cancer Réconfort. Furthermore, the tournament included a horse parade with riders, 4 by 4, on the Place du Casino under the eyes of an amazed public and a hat contest on the last day of the tournament.
Prince Albert II granted his patronage to the first Monte Carlo Polo Tournament in Monaco. Among the distinguished guests present at the event were their Royal Highnesses Michel and Sergius of Yugoslavia, nephews of the last King of Italy, His Excellency Antonio Morabito, Ambassador of Italy in Monaco, Mr Jacques Boisson, Secretary of State of the Prince of Monaco and his wife Carmen, the Prince of Montenegro, the Count and the Countess of Abasolo, Baroness Marie Isabelle Bechade Foncillas and Carlos Puig, the Honorable Jose Ramón de Travy, the Countess of Figols, the Honourable Ramon Baiget Via Montebello, Vice Delegate Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Italy in Spain, as well as celebrities such as Angela Ermakova, Italian actor Paolo Stella and Lebanese actress Lamitta Frangieh.
Francesco Mitrano: “I put all my strength and all my efforts in the battle. But without the support of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and his Patronage, I do not know if I’d come to realize my dream. It is in September that the opening of registration Monte Carlo Polo Club will be launched. Polo is a sport suited to the Principality, and many residents or their children are players themselves. This is a sport both stylish and requiring high endurance, which allows you to practice these major sporting values: self-respect of the opponent, the rules of the game, solidarity, team spirit and the taste for effort. I hope that all lovers of polo living in Monaco will join us for the next edition.”
Adeline Garino, president of the association Ecoute Cancer Réconfort, which has been chosen by HSH Prince Albert II to be the beneficiary of the Gala: “We loved the tournament. A true perfume of dream floated on the Stadium of Devens. Everything was perfect: a warm welcome, the atmosphere, the kindness. Besides, between the benefits of the raffle and donations from our generous supporters there are more than 20 000 euros, which has been donated to our association, for more well being of the patients that we support.”
The teams:
Missbach (+6)
Francesco Mitrano (-1)
Bryan Lynam (0)
Francisco Menendez (+7)
US Polo (+4)
Fabio Acampora (0)
Patrick Saurini (-1)
Juan Ruiz Guinazu (+5)
Audemars (+5)
Renato Bolongaro (0)
Paolo Santanbroggio (+2)
Fernando Riveira (+3)
Barclays (+5)
Ivan Weiss (+1)
Darek Gardener (0)
Facundo Llorente (+4)
