Kathmandu, Nepal (December 7, 1993) - The World Elephant Polo Championship was played at Tiger Tops 2-7 December 1993 and HRH Princess Jotshana presented the trophies. The exciting final between J & B Rare and the first-time visitors Munic International teams went into extra time as it was drawn 2-2 at the end of the second chukka. In the "sudden death" play off, J & B Rare scored the decisive goal. The victory was enjoyed by James Bruxner, Chairman of Justerini & Brooks, who was at the Championship for the first time. As usual, the event attracted media coverage from all over the world as well as hundreds of local spectators.
The home team, the Tiger Mountain Tuskers, beat Nepal's National Parks for third place in a defeat that was vindicated on the last day's Nepal Challenge for the Justerini & Brooks Shield, played only by mahouts on their own elephants. Their captain Ram Prit Yadav, Senior Warden of Royal Chitwan National Park, was awarded the Tuborg Trophy for Sportsman of the year, and the GSG Hathi Sathis took the coveted Best Dressed Khukri with their imaginative velvet elephant hats. The Ladies Challenge ended in a draw 1-1 between the Tiger Tops Tigresses and the Visiting Ladies.
Other teams competing for the Championship included two Innerasia Expedition teams from San Francisco, the Infidels captained by Ann Aylwin and Crusaders led by Armin Schoch. He was awarded the Best First Time Player with an outstanding performance that took the teamn to fifth place ahead of the British Gurkha Gladiations (Hannibal's Own).
The World Elephant Polo Association Championship is an annual invitational event arranged by Tiger Tops and played on the polo field adjacent to Meghauly airport on the edge of Royal Chitwan National Park. Eight teams of four players compete in two chukkas of ten minutes on a field 140 x 70 meters. The regular polo ball is hit by elongated polo sticks over 2 meters in length. The elephants are driven by mahouts sitting behind their ears with the players roped to their backs, wearing the compulsory hard hat. Chuck McDougal referees the match from the back of his tusker and the British Gurkhas undertake the commentating and timekeeping.
For further information please contact Lisa Choegyal.
