Polo, the female Italy called to defend the European title

Last September, with the Punta Ala Polo Cup, the historic polo field – witness for decades of the deeds of great sportsmen and VIPs up to the English royals – in the hamlet of Castiglione della Pescaia returned to shine again. It was the dress rehearsal of the Women’s European Championship – US Polo Assn Trophy. scheduled from Wednesday 5 to Sunday 9 July and which will see four national teams on the field: Italy, England, Germany and France.

At the Punta Ala Equestrian Center, which thanks to the work and passion of Gaia Bulgari has returned to its former glory and hosts international polo events 30 years later, everything is ready for the arrival of the delegations involved in a competition – the Women’s European Championship 2023 – which the International Polo Federation has awarded to FISE (Italian Federation of Equestrian Sports).

It will be an eco-sustainable event as always, in line with the principles that have characterized the redevelopment work of the area that will host the continental tournament.

And there’s a very welcome surprise: entry to the Punta Ala Equestrian Center will be free, with enthusiasts or simple onlookers who will therefore have the opportunity to closely follow a show not to be missed in a breathtaking location, in the heart of Maremma.

«The International Polo Federation is pleased to support and participate in the IV FIP 2023 Women’s European Championship – underlined Piero Dillier, president of the International Polo Federation -. Women’s polo is an important part of the future of polo. It is currently the fastest growing branch of polo, with more and more women joining their respective associations and creating new exclusive tournaments for women around the world. FIP wants to promote, improve and expand women’s polo and programs in all member countries, considering them essential for the future of polo. The International Polo Federation is extremely grateful to all partners and sponsors who have contributed to this endeavour. Thanks to the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation and in particular to Alessandro Giachetti for once again hosting this championship and for the enthusiasm and support for the sport of polo; thanks to the Punta Ala Polo Club for hosting the teams in this beautiful and well-managed facility; thanks to the participating teams and to all the match officials of the International Polo Federation, to the tournament director and to the referees».

«Italy is once again presenting itself to the world of equestrian sports with an event of the highest international level: the women’s European polo championship in Punta Ala – the words of the president of FISE, Marco Di Paola -. The discipline returns to the seaside resort in the province of Grosseto after 30 years and the team led by Gaia Bulgari has worked at full capacity to give players, insiders and the public present a very high-profile facility with a pitch of the latest generation. Our Azzurri will defend the title of European champions at home and, knowing their determination, I’m sure they will give their all to stay on the roof of Europe. My thanks go to Gaia Bulgari and all the local institutions on behalf of Italian equestrian sports for having contributed to the promotion of Italy and the enhancement of our sport».

«When, in 2019, I took over the Punta Ala Equestrian Center to bring it back to its former glory, I did it because it was an affair of the heart – added Gaia Bulgari, president of the Punta Ala Equestrian Center -. This place has inextricably intersected with my life in a thousand ways and the polo field, if you can pass me the definition, has been a bit like my ‘desktop’, a witness to the wonderful years I have lived here. Recovering it and transforming it again into a sports venue for horse lovers like me was a natural fact. Four years later, we are here for a women’s polo European Championship, an event that gives meaning to all the things and sacrifices that my team and I have made, even in the difficult years of the pandemic”.

THREE DAYS OF RACES

There will be three days of competition, with the start of the competitions set for 17.00 and 18.00. It kicks off on Thursday 6, with the draw that established the pairings for the opening matches: Italy, led by coach Franco Piazza and team leader Alessandro Giachetti, will face England, while France and Germany will face each other in the other match . Alice Coria, Maitena Marrè, Camilla Rossi and Ginevra Visconti are the athletes chosen to wear the blue jersey. The teams will then return to the field on Saturday 8, with the second day in which the winning teams in the first match will meet the losers. Sunday 9 the finals – of which RaiSport, in the days following the event, will broadcast a broad summary – and the award ceremony. The four federations have presented a list of 10 players each, but four girls will take the field. For England Kristina White, Beanie Bradley, Rosanna Turk and Rebecca Walters. For Germany Clarissa Marggraf, Marie Haupt, Svenja Hölty and Eva Brühl. For France, the sisters Lucie and Pearl Venot, Margaux Perruchot and Ambra Ploix.

ITALY CHAMPION IN CHARGE

The one scheduled in Punta Ala will be the fourth edition of the European women’s polo championship. The first was held in 2017 in Chantilly (France), with the success of Italy, which finished in second place behind Germany the following year at Villa Sesta, also in Tuscany. In 2021, the first year in which the European Championship counted as a qualifier for the Women’s World Cup, Italy won its second gold medal in Milan, before fourth place in the World Cup in Argentina.

THE PARADE The start of the races will be preceded, on the afternoon of Wednesday 5, by the usual parade of horses and the protagonist athletes of the European Championship scheduled at the Marina di Punta Ala, enriched by the presence of vintage cars and in which Sandra Mucciarini will also participate , Assessor of the Municipality of Castiglione della Pescaia. The fashion show will be followed by an aperitif at the Punta Ala Yachting Club.

THE EVENTS The five-day program of Punta Ala is full of events that will complete the calendar of the European Championship. On Friday evening, at Gallia on the Beach, a charity dinner is scheduled to raise funds for the Operation Smile Italia ETS Foundation. Finally, on Saturday, the classic asado on the sidelines.