Diamonds International Barbados Welcomes you to their World of Polo in Barbados

DIAMONDS INTERNATIONAL
WELCOMES YOU TO THEIR WORLD OF POLO!

Diamonds International one of the leading sponsors of polo in Barbados presented three top tournaments for the Barbados polo season. Along with their partners, Piaget, Breitling, Fairmont Royal Pavilion, La Martina, Digicel and Signature Barbados, they brought the Cheshire Polo Tour, the International 16 goal and the very popular Battle of the Sexes tournaments to polo aficionados. It was an action packed Diamonds International polo series!

The finals of each tournament saw the crème de la crème of Barbados enjoying the hospitality of the Fairmont Royal Pavilion in a well appointed VIP marquee served with fine champagne and delectable delights.

Their season started with THE DIAMONDS INTERNATIONAL/BREITLING CHESHIRE POLO TOUR IN BARBADOS FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 5, 2006.

The Barbados Polo season got off to a very rainy start with many of the tournaments being washed out. However, when the news spread that the Cheshire tour was coming up, one the oldest and most popular tournaments on the Barbados polo calendar the rain abated and the sun triumphed. Each year Cheshire, England's oldest polo club goes to sunny Barbados for a little polo action against their Bajan counterparts and some fun in the sun!

This year's tour was heighten on two accords with sponsors Diamonds International and international watch brand Breitling and the Cheshire team boasting of three professional players (one a five goal and two four goals).
In this exciting four game series Barbados won the series with a convincing win of 71/2 to four goals in the final at the breathtaking Kent Cole owned Lion Castle polo field, the newest and finest polo field in Barbados and certainly one of the finest in the world.

Howard Taylor, Captain of the Cheshire team enjoyed the tour as he was afforded the opportunity to play alongside his daughter Lucy Taylor and son Oliver Taylor. He admits that playing along his children keeps him going! However in the final Howard graciously bowed out and let professionals Oliver Taylor, Will Emmerson, Lucy Taylor and Johnny Kavanagh challenge the Bajan boys Teddy Williams (Captain), Danny Atwell, Richard Gooding and Alex Cole who played for main sponsors Diamonds International and Breitling. Cheshire was no easy push over as the score line might indicate. The game was a fast pace and hard fought one to the end.

Mr. Edward Gibby, for Breitling Latin America and the Caribbean and Mr. Jacob Hassid, Managing Director, Diamonds International presented the top prize of four Breitling Navitimer Olympus watches to the winners, team Barbados.
The spectatorship for this final was the largest seen at any polo event on the island and DJs Steve and Michael Rapley provided the after party excitement!

THE DIAMONDS INTERNATIONAL/PIAGET 16 GOAL INTERNATIONAL POLO CHALLENGE HELD DURING MARCH 26-APRIL 3 2006

After warming up in the 14 goal Tournament, polo action heats up with the start of the Diamonds International/Piaget 16 Goal International Polo Challenge which opened in style with the Fairmont Royal Pavilion (Pink) team displaying fantastic individual brilliance. Players Chris Hyde (6 goal), J.J. Brane (8 goal), Simon Holly (one goal) and Jeff Evelyn (1goal) took that brilliance with them all the way to the finals where they faced off against the Kent Cole led Diamonds International team. The Royal Pavilion team entered into the finals with no losses and had previous defeated Diamonds International (black) in their first encounter. But the Diamonds International team of Rafael Silva (6 goal), Pablo Crespin (5 goal), Alex Cole (2goal) and Kent Cole (1goal) did their sponsors well but had to fight down to the wire for a well earned victory after starting with a 1 ½ goal handicap advantage.

Pablo Crespin in one of his most explosive performances spearheaded Diamonds International (Black) team's victory scoring six goals. Crespin combined well with Silva to dictate the team's strategy and received great support from the father and son team of Kent and Alex Cole. Royal Pavilion fought valiantly to the end producing many dangerous attacks on the Diamonds team, however they failed to make good on their penalty shots as they had done in previous matches with Chris Hyde's 9 out of 9 record coming into the final. In the final Chukka play was furious and the players intent that their team will walk away champions and it was Pablo Crespin who sealed the deal in superb form with a fast break and a beautiful goal to bring the championship to the Diamonds team. The final score 9 ½ goals to 7. The match was indeed a crowd pleaser with non stop action from beginning to end.

The match was preceded by the subsidiary final between Diamonds International (white) under the captaincy of Sir Charles Williams who won the battle for third 8 goals to 3 ½ by crushing the Piaget team led by his son Teddy Williams.
Michal Hassid, Managing Director, Diamonds International presents Kent Cole Captain of the Diamonds team with the Baccarat championship trophy. Most Valuable Player for the tournament was Pablo Crespin. The players in the tournament received beautiful Piaget Cashmere sweaters and other fine gifts from La Martina.

DIAMONDS INTERNATIONAL/PIAGET BATTLE OF THE SEXES POLO CHALLENGE HELD DURING APRIL 17-23 2006

Polo as a sport is indeed growing by gallops in Barbados and if you thought men's polo was exciting the Battle of the Sexes polo challenge brings a whole new dimension to polo as the ladies do battle against the men.

The Diamonds International/Piaget ladies brought the battle to the Digicel men for the fourth Battle of the Sexes International Polo Tournament. Some of the world's finest female polo players from Argentina and the UK join Barbados' top female players to challenge the men to a feisty face off. This year's tournament featured Argentinean Marianella Castagnola, Lucy Taylor and Tamara Vesty from the UK and Barbados' rising female polo stars Monique Archer and sister Angelique Bjerkhamn, Vickie Deane and Natalie Chesham.

This tournament was initiated by Diamonds International and Monique Archer leading Barbadian female player in 2003 to create a new and exciting aspect to polo in Barbados. Initially the Tournament was met with great skepticism but now, it is one of the most competitive tournaments on the Barbados polo calendar. The women won for two consecutive years and the men brought the battle to the ladies in 2005 with a commanding victory.

The four match series started off with an exciting first match victory for the Diamonds/Piaget ladies. Starting with half goal handicap advantage the team of Vicky Deane, Lucy Taylor, Marianella Castagnola and Tamar Vesty fought every inch of the way as they sought to enhance the record going up against the determined Digicel Men. The women exhibited fine horsemanship as they rode their opponents hard while smoothly co-coordinating their efforts to penetrate the men's defence. The ladies galloped away with victory 5 ½ goals to 3 goals with Castagnola scoring a hat trick.

The second match saw the Digicel men led by 4 goal player Danny Atwell and joined by his brother Mark and father Philip step up the pace to edge the ladies out and level the series. This match was indeed hard fought and ended 6 goals to 4 ½ goals.

Having lost their second game the ladies returned with more gusto and determination and certainly got their just deserves by defeating the men 5 goals to 4 ½ goals. While the score did not reflect the true run of play the ladies enjoyed the better run of play but failed to capitalize on many scoring opportunities. Combining great individual skill and an excellent game plan the Diamonds International/Piaget ladies were more than a handful for the Digicel men. Lucy Taylor and Castagnola scored for the ladies.

The Lion Castle polo estate was abuzz with excitement and anticipation for the final outcome in the series. It was certainly obvious by the cheers that the Diamonds/ Piaget ladies were the favourites but the Sir Charles Williams Digicel men's team were not daunted by their overwhelming support. Providing many thrills and some spills the match was indeed a fitting climax to the series presented by Diamonds International, Piaget and Digicel.

Sir Charles making his debut in a Battle of the sexes tournament was joined by his sons Oliver and Teddy and fast improving player Bruce Bayley. During the first chukka players rode each other hard as they fought a grueling game losing possession of the ball to each other. The ladies got a break through and Castagnola made no mistake and scored a 30 yard penalty. At the start of the second chukka the score was 1 ½ to zero goals. The ladies continued their forceful attack on the men but failed to score their opportunities. Bruce Bayley brought the men's challenge back by scoring a penalty bring the score to 1 ½ to 1. Play was very intense in the third chukka with players giving of their best in front of a very boisterous and excited crowd. The Diamonds/Piaget ladies forged further ahead when Lucy Taylor made no mistake after collecting a beautifully placed ball from team mate Castagnola. But this was not enough to keep 4 goal Teddy Williams from coming into his own and scoring three goals to give the Digicel men the lead four goals to 2 ½ and the end of the third chukka.

In the final Chukka the Digicel men pressed even harder and scored three more goals two by Teddy Williams and one by Bruce Bayley. The Diamonds/Piaget ladies had no reply and the men level the series in truly a tough battle of the sexes which ended seven goals to 2 ½ goals. The Battle of the Sexes tour is not only know for hard core playing femmes but for their off field party stamina, so after all the formalities everyone retreated to the fabulous clubhouse where sexes merged, bubbly flowed and a good time was had by all!

Presentation:
Mr. Jacob Hassid, Managing Director, Diamonds International, Mr. Alain Riguidel, Piaget Latin America and Caribbean and Errol McGlothan, Regional Marketing Director, Digicel.
Tamara Vesty most valuable player of the tournament received a beautiful gift from La Martina.
Prizes were provided by main sponsor Piaget and associate sponsor La Martina.