Friday, April 19, 2013 12:53 PM
Rob Kinnon
Puerto Morelos Prepares for 7th Annual Copa del Rey Polo Tournament
The exotic jungle of the Mayan Riviera will
pulse with the galloping of hooves, when the 7th Annual Copa del Rey International Polo Tournament takes place April 25 -
28, 2013 at El Rey Polo Country Club in
Puerto Morelos, just 20 minutes south of Cancun.
Set amidst the lush jungle of the Mexican
Caribbean, the regulation polo field will bring six teams face-to-face at a
multi-day competition. Ranked as a 4-6 goal event, the tournament will showcase
players from around the world and of course, Mexico where the sport has been
played since 1880. This highly anticipated Tournament has quickly become one of
the top annual social and sporting events of the Cancun-Riviera Maya region.
Since 2007, when the world-famous polo legend
Carlos Gracida (Queen Elizabeth's favorite) played in the inaugural Copa del
Rey (El Rey Cup), the Tournament has brought the thrill of polo and an alluring
equestrian lifestyle to a region already acclaimed for its beaches, water
sports, resorts, and archeology.
The tournament will kick off on Thursday
April 25 with a cocktail reception on Friday evening at Plaza Kulkucan in
Cancun where the teams and players will be presented to invited guests and
members of the local and international media. While match play will begin on
Friday morning, the tournament and its participants will receive the blessing
of a Mayan shaman and the Governor of Quintana Roo, Roberto Borge, will officially open the
event on Saturday afternoon. The six teams will meet, head to head throughout
the weekend culminating in the championship match on Sunday. A variety of
events have been planned around this year's tournament including an art
exhibition, live musical entertainment and, of course, the hotly contested
Ladies Hat Competition!
Corporate sponsors for this year's event
include Sunset World, Fiesta Americana, Lemmus, Scappino, INRiviera, E Entertainment,
Mazda, Cuatro Tacos and Volaris among others. The Copa del Rey tournament
was inaugurated in 2007 and since then has grown into one of the most
anticipated social and sporting events in the country.
El
Rey Polo Club is located on la Ruta de los Cenotes, 6
miles from the town of Puerto Morelos, 20 minutes south of Cancun, and has the
only regulation polo field (300 yd x 160 yd) in the Mexican Caribbean. Open
year-round, El Rey Polo Club offers lessons for beginning to advanced players,
with training packages and practice sessions available, as well as a seasoned
stable of horses. The polo field is flanked by a clubhouse with restaurant and
banquet facilities and an infinity edge pool. For more information about El Rey
Polo Club and the tournament call 998
802 1609 or email alexa@poloincancun.com.