BMW International Polo Series 2012

New venue for the Johannesburg Test will showcase both skill and style as South Africa takes on India

Johannesburg - The South African Polo team participating in this year’s BMW International Polo Series, against a touring international Indian team, has been announced. The BMW International Polo Series will take place once again in Durbanand at a new venue in Johannesburg this month.

Thefirst Test of the tournament, which is the epitome of great sportsmanship,glamour and style, takes place at Shongweni Club, in Hillcrest, Durban on the19th of August. This will be followed by the second Test, played aweek later on the 26th of August, at a new venue in Johannesburg -the spacious Waterfall Polo Park in Sunninghill.

Usuallyheld at Inanda Club in Sandton, the Johannesburg leg of the BMW InternationalPolo Series has outgrown polo’s traditional home on the Highveld. The stunningnew development at Waterfall Polo Park consists of three polo fields, two ofwhich will be available for parking and other facilities on the day. This willallow even more spectators to enjoy the thrill of international polo.

TheSouth African Polo Team will be captained by the experienced GillespieArmstrong who is also part of the team that won the Beresford Cup at the 2012Inter-Provincials. His team being represented at the BMW International PoloSeries includes 26 year old Leroux Hendriks from Pretoria; 21 year old DuncanWatson, the eldest son of South Africa’s most capped international polo playerRussell Watson; powerful striker in the back position, Bryan Hein and 25 yearold reserve Lance Watson.

Thisyear, the Indian Polo Association has accepted the South African PoloAssociation’s invitation to send their national side to participate in theSeries. India have only played in the BMW International Polo Series oncepreviously in 2005, which saw the home side emerging victorious.

TheSouth African team will be pitting their skills against a rather mature Indianside this year with the youngest player on the Indian team being 29 years old.

“We have always enjoyed avery close relationship with our Indian counterparts and even though there hasonly been one previous International in this Series, we have had several socialand competitive tours at a lower level handicap," said Walter Grindrod,President of the South African Polo Association.
"The Indian army hasthe greatest mounted infantry in the world and is still the base of polo there,"he added. "We look forward to being able to reciprocate some of the warmhospitality we have enjoyed in their beautiful country".
BMW’scollaboration with the South African Polo Association is one of thelongest-running sports sponsorships in South Africa – 2012 marks 23 years ofBMW’s commitment to the sport.

“For BMW, our long-standingassociation with polo is clearly in support of the core values of the BMWbrand,” explains Bodo Donauer, Managing Director of BMW South Africa. “Ourbrand represents dynamism, innovation and beautiful aesthetics - all in equalmeasure.  The sport of polo certainlymirrors these characteristics – both on and off the field.”
“More importantly, asanyone who has watched a polo match will testify to, the sound of thundering hoovesand the thrill of robust competition delivers spectators the very emotion thatBMW embodies in each of its products – pure joy.”
Guestsare invited to bring their families and a picnic basket to enjoy an afternoonof outstanding horsemanship, couture designs and, of course, patriotic supportof the South African polo team.

DanNicholl will MC inside the BMW VIP Marquee at this year’s events. Having workedas a sports anchor and commentator with Cape Talk for six years, anchored ETV’sChampions League football coverage, and worked as an MC across Southern Africa,Dan will be the perfect sports host for BMW VIP guests on the day.

Publictickets for Shongweni and Waterfall are not pre-sold and are only available atthe gates on the day, which open at 10am. Shongweni tickets are sold at a costof R80 per person (West Bank) and R50 per person (East Bank). However, guestsarriving in a BMW will be able to enjoy the afternoon for just R60 or R30 perperson for the West and East Banks respectively. Waterfall tickets are R100 perperson and again BMW drivers will be able to enter for just R80 per person. Childrenunder the age of twelve are given free access.
Pleaserefer to www.bmw.co.za/polo or www.sapolo.org.za for further information with regard to ticket sales.
Follow BMW on Twitter and join theconversation using #BMWPolo.
BMW is also running a competition on Twitter where one canwin a set of double tickets to the BMW Marquee. To enter this competition havea look at #BMWtakemetothePolo on Twitter from 13 to 19 August.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Fleishman-HillardSouth Africa
Selina Jardim
selina.jardim@fleishman.co.za
011 548 2000