Am I possibly the only New Zealander who dreads spending time at the Oktoberfest in München? Even the thought of sitting in a crowded beer tent or pushing my way through millions (8 million last year apparently) to get to a free seat makes me come over all claustrophobic.
Fortunately there are alternatives, giving the atmosphere, the fun, the music and the beer without the claustrophobic crowd. And one of the best alternatives is the Oktoberfest Cup at Tagmersheim Polo Club.
Every autumn Tagmersheim Polo Club invite the polo community to their Oktoberfest tournament. Isabel von Morgenstern has found a formula that works. Players and ponies arrive on the Friday for late afternoon games.
On Saturday the castle gates are opened to the public at 12:00. We turn up the music and I grab the microphone to welcome the guests who start strolling in. Autumn sunshine guaranteed!
It's a lovely spectator crowd here, sincerely interested families spending time watching the ponies being tacked up, others making for the refreshments and getting themselves seated field-side for a polo spectacle. This year there were forur teams, so two games with plenty of time between them to invite the spectators onto the field to tread in the divots.
In the evening Isabel then invites players and guests to an Oktoberfest party which has now reached cult status. Super to see everyone dressed in dirndl or lederhosen with the Argentine players and grooms also doing their best take on Bavarian traditional dress. And this year the atmosphere was electric, the live music infectious and the food fabulous.
Sunday was definitely a day for the crowd, banking up along the sidelines, enjoying two high energy games and a horse and hound hunt display. All four teams played adventurous polo with very few fouls breaking up the fast paced, free-moving action. Niklas Steinle and Eva Brühl always combine well together but despite competent teamwork they failed to find that creative spark needed to put them in the running for first place. The brothers, Joaquin and Segundo Copello played against each other, providing a vibrant performance of attacking polo. Both bring masses of experience to the field and theirs was always a hard fought encounter.
Great to see new faces on the field with Leon and Charlotta Schuhmacher, and to see how players have improved and advanced over the season.
Team Tagmersheim was the surprise team of the tournament. Isabel not only organized the tournament, the social events, a houseful of guests and official obligations, she also played for Tagmersheim with her two daughters Sophia and Annabel. It was a mammoth effort for the three and they played brilliantly with their Nr 4 Francisco Rattagan using his physicality, his speed and his skill to put this team into second place.
It was team Brauerei Kühbach that came in at first place with Cirilo Allende, Franco Rodriguez and Charlotta helping Segundo dominate the field of play.
The polo community just loves Tagmersheim and so do I. The prize-giving always friendly, relaxed with lots of joking and laughs. A big thanks to Isabel and her team for their generous hospitality.
Winners
Team Brauerei Kühbach
Cirilo Allende, Leon/Charlotta Schuhmaker
Franco Rodriguez, Segundo Copello
Team Tagmersheim
Isabel/Ingo von Morgenstern, Annabel von Morgenstern, Sophia Jaenecke, Francisco Rattagan
Team Chiemsee
Helwig Falch, Niklas Steinle, Clarissa Margraf, Eva Brühl
Team Fürstenberg/Il Salotto
Nina Strasser, Alice Boldis, Valentin Ulrich, Joaquín Copello
MVP Charlotta Schumacher
BPP Pampa, played by Francisco Rattagan
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