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January 27, 2008
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Brioni cut from the cloth of warriors

Team Brioni were crowned Winner of the 24th Cartier Polo World Cup on Snow on Sunday after a scintillating 8 1/2 : 6 „warrior triumph“ against 2006 champions Cartier in what was possibly the finest game seen at St. Moritz.

The 24th Polo World Cup on Snow has been held in ideal conditions against a magnificent natural backdrop. We are delighted to have welcomed a record number of around 22,000 spectators and a number of 200 international journalists, who have followed the games here and sent reports about the sport of polo and the wonderful surroundings in the Engadine to publications all over the world.

Not even the die-hard Cartier fans could begrudge Brioni of this victory when John Paul Clarkin charged down the lake, hammered the ball the height of the Palace hotel, judged the wind and descent of the ball perfectly to poke it skyward again with the tip of his raised mallet before – as if that wasn’t enough - caressing it upward again as the ball threatened to come back to earth before – and now he had to have been showing off - going on to dissect the goal posts with an under the neck tuck. „It was like it was a dream“ – and it was. This indeed was an earth shattering performance by the New Zealander, but even more pleasing – if you are a Brioni fan – was the all round contribution of this team.

But credit to Cartier: This was a tight came from the first bell make no mistake about it, and they too raised their game in front of a packed top-of -the lake stadium. Leading until the second chukker, Jose Donoso and Marcos Di Paola will rue this loss, while their patron Adriano Agosti will undoubtedly be proud of Cartier’s 2008 campaign.

And there was some good news for Maybach who outscored Team Bank Julius Baer to win their final game after a cruel golden goal loss to Brioni on Saturday. Maybach’s patron Philipp Maeder – the most passionate man on the lake – can ski home happy.

Brioni will go home dreaming of John Paul Clarkin and that orange ball.