THAILAND SET TO STAGE FIRST EVER ELEPHANT POLO TOURNAMENT IN HUA HIN

Anantara Resort & Spa, Hua Hin together with the Elephant Conservation Centre of Thailand is proud to announce the first ever Elephant Polo Tournament in Thailand.

Under the auspices of the World Elephant Polo Association (WEPA) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Anantara Gold Cup - Hua Hin will be played over the weekend of 14th - 16th September, 2001, Hua Hin, Thailand.

Mr Christopher Stafford, General Manager of Anantara Resort & Spa initiated this tournament coming to Thailand and is delighted this event will raise funds for Thai Elephants and at the same time put Hua Hin on the international map.

Mr Richard Lair, Advisor and Foreign Affairs Officer at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre along with his team will oversee the event. Besides serious conservation projects, such as the Mahout Training School and a mobile vet clinic, Mr Lair also directs the Elephant Art Project where elephants paint, and the Thai Elephant Orchestra. He has lived and worked with Asian elephants for 23 years.

"Thailand's 2,500 domesticated Asian elephants are the survivors of 100,000 last century. The biggest problem is to find suitable work that will enable their owners to continue keeping them. Elephants are intelligent creatures and are proven to enjoy interacting with humans, they are quick to pick up the skill of Polo and in some cases have outwitted players" said Mr Lair.

"Elephant Polo is a great opportunity to highlight the work of the Elephant Conservation Centre and assist us in raising awareness and much needed funds", he said.

Elephant Polo was first played by Mogul Indian Kings but reinvented in 1982 by an Englishman (Jim Edwards) and a Scotsman (James Manclark) in a bar in Switzerland! Both passionate polo players, they decided that Polo on elephants might be more interesting and adventurous. The rest is history!

Since then, it has predominantly been played at Tiger Tops Resort in Nepal, owned by Jim Edwards. Both Mr Edwards and Mr Manclark are scheduled to play for Nepal in this tournament.

Preparations are currently underway to manage and train the elephants and Mahouts by Colonel Raj Kalaan. He has played Elephant Polo since 1987 and is a current member of the WEPA committee. He has an impressive history in horse polo including playing for India in World Cup Polo.

The tournament in Thailand will be played with two teams of three Elephants with two chukkas of 10 minutes playing time each. The players will use specially made elongated mallets that are 98 - 110 inches in length, depending on the height of the elephant using regular polo balls.

Each Elephant carries a Polo player and a Mahout. The Mahout directs the elephant using his voice, hands, feet or a goad. The umpire of the game oversees the play from a wooden howdah on the back of the largest elephant.

Teams confirmed to play are Nepal, Sri Lanka, Australia, Singapore and two teams from Thailand. It is rumored that Mr Alf Erickson, member of the USA WEPA chapter now living in Thailand will bring his all female team of Elephant Polo players to compete under the team name of 'Screwy Tuskers'.

The height of the elephants range from 2.06 meters to 2.4 meters, weighing between 2 to 2.8 tonnes each. They can eat in excess of 200 kilograms of food per day each. The largest elephants are used in the defensive number three position and the shorter ones in attack in the number one position.

The tournament will be held over three days on a specially prepared Elephant Polo field at the local Military camp in Hua Hin.

Hua Hin is located 238 kilometers south of Bangkok and sits on the Gulf of Siam. It was a sanctuary frequented by the Thai Royal family and high society. King Rama VII built a summer palace in the 1920's. In 1928, the King completed a magnificent ocean hideaway as a gift to Queen Rambaibarni, naming it 'Klai Kangwol' or 'Far from Worries'. Hua Hin is steeped in history with a bounty of natural attractions. Anantara Resort & Spa is nestled on the sunrise side of the Gulf of Siam offering a unique blend of traditional Thai architectural heritage, exotic interiors and natural tropical gardens. Guest will be treated to the culinary delights of Chef David Bedinghaus or be able to relax in Anantara's stunning spa. Hua Hin abounds in recreational amenities including access to six championship golf courses.

The weekend will feature a range of activities including the Anantara Gold Cup Elephant Polo Ball, Hua Hin's Marching Band performing for the crowds and Elephants painting which will then be auctioned off to raise funds. All funds raised will be donated to the Charity of the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre in Lampang, Northern Thailand.