2003: Tony Pidgeley, Tim Brown, Jack Kidd (all UK) for VERTU
2004: Tony Pidgeley, Tim Brown, Jack Kidd (all UK) for VERTU / High Life
2005: Peter Slupinski (GER), Laurens Brouns (NL), Christian Bernal (ARG) for Hypo Liechtenstein
2006: Philip Maeder (CH), Harald Link (GER), Federico Bachman (ARG) for Bentley Wien
2007: Sebastian Schneberger (GER), Goffredo Cutinelli (ITA), Cezar Guinazu (ARG) for Igel Software
2008: Uwe Schröder, Niffy Winter, Thomas Winter (all GER) Käfer/ Lanson
2009: Uwe Schröder, Niffy Winter, Thomas Winter (all GER) for Lanson
2010: Dr. Piero Dillier (CH), Tito Gaudenzi (CH/USA), Lucas Labat (ARG) for Valartis Bank
2011: Steffi von Pock (GER), Eva Brühl (GER), Ignacio Tillous (ARG) for Wintertecnik
In Persia, polo must have, already early on, been given great significance – since time immemorial, first class horses and exceptionally skilled riders could be found here. The Persians were regarded as the best cavalrymen of the ancient world. There were times when important government appointments were only held by outstanding polo players. All historical sources point to the fact that the game was played, also in all other cultures, with the intent of keeping horse and rider in continual practice in case there was a war. Ancient Persia was, on the one hand, filled with the desire to bring culture to all other peoples but was, on the other hand, in a constant battle with the intrusion of conquerors and the peoples of the Steppe. An immense strength came from Persia which was also expressed in the perfection and aesthetization of the game of polo. An obvious parallel exists between the Persian tendency towards heroism and the spreading of the game of polo.
From 200 A.D. there are countless historical sources regarding the rapid spreading of polo over the whole Orient. It is first mentioned in China in 627. From the beginning of the 8th century, famous polo horses were imported from Turkestan to China. Polo didn't reach Japan and Korea until the 9th century where it also found passionate followers.
India is the place of birth of modern polo. During a military expedition in India's hinterland, officers of the 10th English Hussar Regiment discovered polo being played in the courts of the Maharajah of Manipur. They then founded their first polo club in Calchar in 1859: the Silchar Polo Club. Lieutenant Joseph Sherer, one of the founding members of the first English Silchar Polo Club, is regarded as the forefather of English polo. In 1862, the Calcutta Polo Club was founded which is today one of the oldest in the world. In 1869, the first English polo rules were written by E. Harttop. The first public contest in England, between the English regiments the 9th Lancers and the 10th Hussars, was held in Aldershot. Since then, it has spread throughout the whole western hemisphere. In 1872 the first European club is founded, in Monmouthshire, England. Polo only reached the North American continent in 1876. In 1877 the Englishman David Sherman took the game to Argentina during his trip to the province, Buenos Aires. Until today, England and Argentina count as the world's big polo nations.
This fascinating equestrian sport didn't reach Germany until relatively late. The first polo game in Germany took place in 1896 in Hamburg. In 1898 the first German polo club was also founded there which is still successful, even today. Hamburg will host, already for the fifth consecutive year, the Rolex Crown Cup which represents a highlight in the high goal category.
Polo is, meanwhile, played worldwide on all five continents in over 50 countries and is appreciated by a discerning public. Once a year, in November, the world's best players demonstrate their skill in Buenos Aires in Argentina.
Everything speaks for the expansion of the powerful polo network throughout the world, also in the 21st century. With great organisational and financial input, it is currently celebrated as one of the most important social events. With polo we connect a centuries-old success story.