sports

France, Germany, UK & Switzerland to Battle for Snow Polo Cup in St. Moritz

France, Germany, Switzerland and the UK will battle it out for the top prize at the 27th St. Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow on January 27–30 in the posh Swiss ski resort. Apparently due to some sort of snafu over sponsorship, unlike previous years when teams competed for the world-famous polo trophy on the frozen Lake St. Moritz under famous names like Cartier, Maserati and Brioni, this year's tournament will be a Nations Cup in which each team represents its patron's country of origin. This year's team patrons are Philipp Maeder for Switzerland, Vivek Rawal for Great Britain, Thomas Wolfensberger representing Germany and François Le Barazer, playing for France. The 2011 St. Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow will be staged as a high-goal polo tournament, ensuring the action is as fast-paced as ever. We're sure the big brand names will be back next year.

Tags: equestrian, France, Germany, horses, polo, ski resort, snow polo, sports, St. Moritz, Switzerland, UK

Go Hunting at Julian Assange's Country House Hideout

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Sports

When not serving as a hideout for much-maligned Wikileaks frontman Julian Assange, stately Ellingham Hall (above) in the UK's bucolic Norfolk is available for sportsmen to hunt gamebirds in a classic English country house setting. The 10-bedroom Georgian mansion sited on 650 acres has been a prime shooting ground for four generations of the aristocratic Smith family's ownership. The Ellingham estate offers shooting days in season of between 150 – 200 birds at about $40 per bird, or about $6,000 – $8,000 per day. "Whether you like snap shooting over tall trees, partridges bursting over hedges, or high pheasants flying back to woods, we have something to please all," the estate's listing on the Guns on Pegs site notes. "We work very hard to deliver a smoothly-run but relaxed and friendly shoot. The shoot makes a very good day for eight guns but nine can be accommodated for teams." Ellingham provides refreshments and lunch, and participants are encouraged to bring their own Purdeys and Range Rovers; shooting at Assange is strictly prohibited.

Gallery: Ellingham Hall, the Assange Hideout

Tags: country house, current events, English country house, estates, hunting, Julian Assange, mansion, Norfolk, shotgun, sports, UK, Wikileaks

Audi Wins World Snow Polo Championship in Aspen

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Sports

Audi's team of aces beat out the Beluga Vodka squad from Russia to capture the World Snow Polo Championship in Aspen the other day after a fierce battle. The conditions at Aspen's Wagner Park were not ideal this year; thin snow cover prevented organizers from being able to properly pack and groom the field with heavy equipment, the Aspen Times reports. "Players spent much of the day at a standstill, trying to dig the ball out of the snow or muffing shots as the half-buried ball refused to budge, even after a hard strike," the paper notes. "Several point-blank scoring opportunities were lost as players were unable to get a clean strike." Bombardier Jets' team took third place. Meanwhile, competition is heating up for the St. Moritz Polo World Cup (above) taking place later this month in Switzerland, which will no doubt offer better conditions.

Tags: Aspen, Audi, Bombardier, equestrian, horses, polo, Russia, Snow Polo, sports, St. Moritz, winter sports

Kirk Gibson's Artifacts Bring in $1.19 Million at Auction

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Charity, Sports

Kirk Gibson's Artifacts Bring in $1.9 Million at Auction

AP reported that a father-son sports collectors team from Santa Barbara bought the bat that Kirk Gibson used for his historic home run in the 1988 World Series for $575,912.40 on November 14 in SCP Auctions' October/November auction, and also took home the four other Gibson artifacts on sale. The bid for Gibson's bat is the second-highest amount paid for a game-used bat, behind only Babe Ruth's signed bat used for the first home run at Yankee Stadium, which SCP sold in 2004 for $1.265 million.

Chad and Doug Dreier of the Dreier Group paid $1.19 million for the five items, which included Gibson's home run bat, his game-worn Los Angeles Dodgers jersey ($303,277.20), batting helmet ($153,388.80), NL Most Valuable Player Award ($110,293.20), and World Series trophy ($45,578.40). Proceeds from the sale of the World Series trophy and MVP award will benefit the Kirk Gibson Foundation to continue Gibson's support of Michigan State University athletic programs and to help fund his partial scholarship programs at Clarkston (Michigan) H.S. and Waterford (Michigan) H.S., in honor of his parents, who were educators at those schools.

Other items that found new homes at the auction are a 1934 Babe Ruth professional-model bat used by Ruth to hit career home run No. 702 ($137,865.60), a Ty Cobb H&B side-written professional model game-used bat ($75,330), and a 1953 Mickey Mantle New York Yankees game-worn, autographed road jersey ($62,256).

Gallery: Kirk Gibson's Artifacts Bring in $1.19 Million at Auction

Tags: auction, baseball, bat, charity, Dodgers, Kirk Gibson, Los Angeles Dodgers, sports

Reggie Jackson's $1 Million Ferrari & More at Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Celebrity Shopping, Sports

A rare 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder (above) formerly owned by both baseball great Reggie Jackson and famed daredevil Evel Knieval is expected to fetch up to $1 million at RM Auctions' annual Automobiles of Arizona sale in Phoenix on January 20 – 21. The car is one of a number of stunning Ferraris on offer in the stunning auction taking place at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa (previewed by my colleague Noah Joseph), including a gorgeous 1966 Ferrari Superfast Series I, estimated at $900,000 – $1 million; a fully-restored 1950 Ferrari 166 Inter Berlinetta, est. $400,000 – $600,000; a well-known 1995 Ferrari F50 Show Car, est. $600,000 – $800,000, the very first F50 built; and a stunning jet black 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC. Other classic European thoroughbreds set to cross the block include a 1921 Rolls-Royce 40/50HP Silver Ghost Phaeton, est. $350,000 – $475,000; a 1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Newmarket Sport Phaeton, est. $300,000 – $450,000; and a 1958 Aston Martin DB2 Mark III, est. $200,000 – $250,000.

Gallery: RM Auctions' Arizona Ferraris

Tags: Arizona, Aston Martin, auction, baseball, celebrity, celebrity cars, classic cars, Ferrari, Reggie Jackson, RM Auctions, Rolls-Royce, sports

Orvis Presents North America's Finest Hunting Lodges

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports, Books

Last spring we reported that legendary Vermont-based sporting outfitters Orvis had published a great new book on fly fishing's finest destinations. Now the company has come out with an equally compelling companion volume on hunting game birds. Great Hunting Lodges of North America: Wingshooting's Finest Destinations (Rizzoli) is a lavishly illustrated look at the very best upland and waterfowl hunting destinations around. Profiles of almost 20 featured Orvis destinations celebrate the great American sporting tradition and include detailed information on the local game species and wildlife, the lodge and the surrounding countryside, along with in-depth sidebars on key game birds and sporting dogs. Even if you're merely an armchair adventurer who's never fired a shotgun the great outdoor photography is worth the price of admission in its own right. Featured lodges include the Eagle Nest Lodge in Montana, Flying B Ranch in Idaho, Greystone Castle in Texas, The High Lonesome Ranch in Colorado, Mexico's Rancho Caracol, Deer Creek Lodge in Kentucky, Harris Springs Sportsman's Preserve in South Carolina and Pine Hill Plantation in Georgia. Check out the gallery for a preview.

Gallery: Great Hunting Lodges of North America

Tags: books, coffee table books, Colorado, dogs, fishing, fly fishing, Georgia, guns, hunting, hunting lodge, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, Orvis, Rancho Caracol, shotgun, sporting, sports, Texas, Vermont, wildlife

The Great Fly-Fishing Rivers of the West

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports, Books

Originally released in 1994, Grant McClintock's classic angler's almanac Flywater: Fly-Fishing Rivers of the West documented his year-long journey visiting the creeks, springs and freestone rivers that make the West the world's premiere destination for fly fishing. Now Universe has issued an updated edition complete with new photographs from McClintock's collection, revealing new river finds full of trout and steelhead. The destinations pictured in more than 200 full-color photos include New Mexico, California, Colorado, Utah, Oregon, Washington, Montana and Wyoming; the cover shows picturesque Pelican Point on Montana's Missouri River. Interspersed with the photos, McClintock explains the complexities of fly fishing in each type of "flywater". The book also features a foreword by renowned newsman and fly fishing enthusiast Tom Brokaw, who notes that McClintock magnificently captures the sport's "sense of majesty and humility – majesty in the surroundings and the humility that comes with understanding that the fly-fishing angler is there on nature's terms."

Tags: books, coffee table books, Colorado, fishing, fly fishing, fly-fishing, nature, New Mexico, outdoor, river, sports, Tom Brokaw, water

Sixty Years of Formula One Racing in Photos

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Sports, Books

Autocourse: 60 Years of World Championship Grand Prix Motor Racing, new from Motorbooks / Icon Publishing, is a lavishly-illustrated account of the globally successful FIA Formula 1 World Championship from its roots before World War II to the present day. After the war came the glamorous era of the winning Alfa Romeos, followed by stunning victories from Ferrari and Maserati in the 1950s maintaining the Italian tradition before mighty Mercedes captured the crown; along the way technological advances causing several re-inventions. The book follows the action in over 500 images evoking the drivers - the great Michael Schumacher gets his very own chapter – cars, circuits, personalities and issues of each era. The back of the book contains a useful compendium of statistics, champions and more. With more and more countries vying with each other to gain the right to stage a Formula 1 contest, and as the calendar heads towards a twenty-race season, the book also looks forward to the megabucks sport's seventh decade as new teams arrive to take on the established giants.

Tags: Alfa Romeo, books, cars, coffee table books, Ferrari, Formula 1, Formula One, Maserati, Mercedes, Michael Schumacher, motor racing, racecar, racing, sports, World War II

Assouline Fields Polo Team at the Ambassador's Cup

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Sports, Books

Last fall luxury imprint Assouline published the ultimate book on the aristocratic sport of polo. This season they went one step further and fielded a polo team of their own at the 71st Annual Ambassador's Cup at the Mashomack Polo Club near Rhinebeck in Dutchess County, New York. The imprint's founders Prosper Assouline and wife Martine (above) flew in from Paris to cheer on their players, dressed in matching Assouline polo team shirts. Matches took place Sept. 24 – 26 with representation from countries including Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Germany, Hungary, Peru, Italy, Switzerland, and the United States. In addition to Assouline, other well known firms fielding teams in the event, run under the auspices of the Federation of International Polo (FIP), included Berluti shoes, Hunter boots, Hermes, Beretta, The Carlyle Hotel and Moncler, with the Hunter team emerging triumphant.

Gallery: Assouline Polo at the Ambassador's Cup

Tags: Assouline, Beretta, Berluti, books, Carlyle Hotel, coffee table books, equestrian, France, Hermes, horses, Hunter, Mashomack Polo Club, Moncler, New York, Paris, polo, Prosper Assouline, Rhinebeck, sports

Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic Comes to Los Angeles

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Sports

Famed French champagne house Veuve Clicquot will re-introduce professional polo to Los Angeles when it hosts the inaugural Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic Los Angeles on October 10 at the Will Rogers State Historic Park in Pacific Palisades. Nacho Figueras, captain of the Black Watch team and Ralph Lauren model, will go head-to-head against some of the world's best polo players for the inaugural event. In homage to the golden era of polo in Hollywood in the 1920s and 1930s, guests are being encouraged to wear fashions inspired by that era, with help from Cameron Silver, super-stylish owner of Los Angeles and London-based vintage couture boutiques decadestwo and DECADES. Silver will offer on-site styling advice and sessions with guests and is consulting on the overall design of the event and its vintage inspiration.

In addition to the exclusive VIP Marquee, one side of the field will be free and open to the public. Angelenos will be able to watch the match from bleachers overlooking the legendary polo grounds – the last of Los Angeles' original 22 polo fields – where Hollywood celebrity and polo connoisseur Will Rogers used to play the sport himself along with fellow polo enthusiasts including Clark Gable, Walt Disney, and Spencer Tracy. The site is located just outside Rogers' former estate, which still stands today. Spectators can also expect plenty of Veuve Clicquot champagne bars and premium snacks, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Will Rogers Ranch Foundation and California State Parks.

Tags: California, champagne, Clark Gable, Decades, equestrian, events, Hollywood, horses, Los Angeles, Nacho Figueras, Pacific Palisades, polo, Ralph Lauren, sports, Veuve Clicquot, vintage, Will Rogers

Magual Polo Tournament Slated for Argentina

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Sports

Polo season in the Hamptons may be over and done with, but things are just starting to heat up on the sporting scene in Argentina. From November 27 to December 4 the Magual Polo Tournament will take place at the Magual Polo Club at the height of the country's polo season. Located about 45 minutes outside Buenos Aires, Magual is a vast polo complex with several polo fields and 150 horses. It's run by the Di Paola polo playing dynasty, notably Marcos Di Paola, the oldest of three brothers and an 8-goal player who is ranked in the top 20 worldwide among polo professionals. Marcos is a regular on the annual polo circuit that runs from Argentina to Florida to England, Spain and France, and various North American, South American and European teams are expected to compete in the exciting tournament including the Aventus polo team of the famed Creed fragrance company that we wrote about back in June.

Tags: Argentina, Buenos Aires, Creed, England, equestrian, horses, Magual Polo Club, Polo, south america, sports

Abramovich Building Private $30 Million Nightclub in London

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wealth

Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich is building himself an exclusive new $30 million private nightclub underneath his football club's stadium in London to entertain girlfriend Dasha Zhukova's (above) chic friends. Work on the luxuriously appointed space, located below Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium with capacity for up to 500 guests, is at an advanced stage and could be complete by December the London Evening Standard reports. The venue, in a space formerly occupied by Purple nightclub which closed in 2007, features a 13-ft. high waterfall that cost $250,000 to install as well as a hydraulically-operated stage for private performances by Abramovich's favorite artists including Gwen Stefani, Amy Winehouse and Kings of Leon. The interior will feature a "gritty industrial design motif" with a lavish green room for performers and private booths with plasma TV screens, the paper reports, noting Abramovich got the idea for the club after touring exclusive night spots in the U.S.

Tags: Amy Winehouse, Dasha Zhukova, Gwen Stefani, London, nightclub, Roman Abramovich, Russia, Russian billionaires, sports

Classic '70s Country Club Polos by Boast Reborn

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Sports, Men's Style

Boast, the iconic, exclusive polo shirt brand founded in 1973 by Bill St. John, the tennis pro at Greenwich, Connecticut's famed Field Club, is being relaunched this month with a modern spin. Boast polos, featuring the notorious Japanese Maple leaf logo which many assumed to be a pot leaf, were originally sold only by Saint John from the back of his station wagon at country clubs across the Northeast. He designed the shirts in homage to the rebellious tennis stars of the day like John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors, the intentional pot leaf confusion adding a subversive touch.

Now John Dowling and Alexander Tiger, major racquet sports devotees and longtime fans of Boast, have revived the brand and updated the fabric and fit of the shirts, and are making them available outside country club pro shops for the first time. Dowling and Tiger have brought in Jack Spade designer Andy Spade's creative studio Partners & Spade to help breathe new life into the brand. The super soft and durable Boast pique cotton polo, offered in a range of colors in a classic ﬁt, is now available for $68 via BoastUSA.com. There's also a beautifully hand-tailored navy blazer with eye-catching details for $1,200.

Gallery: Boast Reborn

Tags: Andy Spade, Connecticut, country club, Field Club, Greenwich, Jack Spade, John McEnroe, mens style, Partners Spade, polo, polo shirt, shirts, sports, tennis

Beckhams to Sell Their Mansion in England for $28 Million

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Wealth

David and Victoria Beckham plan to list their historic Hertfordshire, UK mansion – nicknamed "Beckingham Palace" – for sale at £18 million, or about $28 million. The seven-bedroom 1930's Grade II listed Georgian estate (above) sits on 24 landscaped acres and features indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a petting zoo, recording studio, billiards room, gym and tennis courts. The Beckhams are selling the property because they plan to make Los Angeles their permanent home, the London Daily Mail reports. They bought the estate in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire for £2.5 million in 1999 and spent more than £18 million renovating it over the years. The garden has three £10,000 gazebos, each with a different theme – lakeside, romantic and ornamental. They have also installed a 52 ft. garden pavilion with a marble floor, which houses a £70,000 barbecue. Three years ago David joined the LA Galaxy team and the couple, who are worth a cool £125 million, have decided they prefer to reside in America where they live in an opulent £11 million Beverly Hills mansion.

Source

Tags: celebrity, celebrity real estate, David and Victoria Beckham, David Beckham, estates, Los Angeles, soccer, sports, UK, Victoria Beckham

British Polo Players to Take Breathalyzer Tests - Prince Harry, This Means You

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Sports

Champagne is the perfect accompaniment to the aristocratic sport of polo, but if you're playing rather than merely watching it at Britain's most prestigious fields you'll have to do your quaffing after the match. The game's regulatory body in the UK, the Hurlingham Polo Association, is introducing random alcohol testing for players in a bid to promote professionalism. Yes, that includes polo and party-loving royal Prince Harry (above). The limit will be set at half the amount considered unsafe for driving a car. Failing a breathalyzer test will not get a player banned for the season, the Guardian notes, but they will be prevented in playing in the day's match.

Many polo pros have welcomed the move, pointing out that a "good lunch", i.e. one accompanied by plenty of bubbly, never improves performance or safety. "It's always been in our regulations that alcohol and drugs aren't acceptable," notes HPA's chief executive David Woodd, "but now we have the machines which we didn't have before and a doctor or official on hand to use them....At the country club I wouldn't argue that there are players who will have a decent lunch and play afterward. But at the top end of the sport, most of them won't even eat, never mind drink, before they play."

Tags: alcohol, Champagne, country club, drinking, equestrian, horses, polo, Prince Harry, royalty, spirits, sporting, sports, UK