The action-packed two weekends of Samsung Kenya International Polo Open high-goal tournament wrapped up on Sunday with winners grabbing top accolades at the Nairobi Polo Club, Jamhuri.
Both international and local players entertained polo fans and enthusiasts, exhibiting high levels of horsemanship and great stick work.
In addition to the reclaiming the title they won in 2014, team Samurai produced the Most Valuable Player and Best Playing Pony.
The 12-goal finalists- Samurai and RJ Polo - staged a fierce opposition in a neck-to-neck exchange, where the former ran away with the title with a 7F-6 win. Samurai won the title on an unbeaten streak. Samurai comprised of Brad MacGibbon, 4, Craig Millar, 3, Archie Voorspuy,3 and Raphael Nzomo, 2, whereas RJ Polo drew Guy Watson, 5, Richard Stonewigg, 3, Tarquin Gross, 2.5 and Tiva Gross, 2.
Handicap three player from Manyatta Polo Club Millar was voted the MVP and awarded the ‘Fiesta Kipsigis’ trophy, while Raphael Nzomo’s filly ‘Ruby’ was honoured as the BPP.
“I am happy that I’ve been voted the MVP, thanks to my teammates who did a lot of running for me - I am not so good at that,” said Millar, son to KPA’s president.
‘Ruby’ was ridden by South African import, four-goaler MacGibbon on both weekends. Nzomo was full of praises for the BBP, five-year old South Africa-bred ‘Ruby’ who is only six months old at his stables.
“It is quite interesting, the investment has paid off. I hadn’t played ‘Ruby’ since she joined my string but now that the waters has already been charted, I will play her appropriately,” Nzomo said.
The annual showpiece is the highlight of the Kenya Polo Association’s calendar which runs from May to December. The highest level of the fast and furious man-and-horse games was crowned with pomp and colour at the well manicured fields of the club.
In the subsidiary category, ‘Space & Style’ (Senator Gideon Moi, 1, Cindy Voorspuy, 0.5, Nikki Ngugi, 0.5 and Eva Kamau, -2) won the Fat Hippo trophy unbeaten. Samsung Galaxy’s captain and handicap 2.5 Martin Kesier was the tournament’s top scorer with 15 goals to his name. Kesier’s team lost 4F-6 in the subsidiary class finals.
Moi intimated the he would work hard to play in the seniors together with his oldest son, handicap 1.5 Kimoi Moi next year. He was also delighted to have defeated his second son Kigen Moi who turned out for team Ultimate.
“It was a great and especially teaming up with the beautiful ladies. I just hope that I will play amongst the seniors next year,” said Moi, a handicap one player.