Pretoria, 22 September, 2016 – Crowds from Johannesburg and the rest of the continent descended upon the Inanda Club, Sandton, on Sunday 18 September, as the action kicked off for the final day of the Land Rover Africa Cup tournament.
World-class polo players put on a riveting display of horsemanship for the audience to appreciate the nobel sport. This year, the tournament saw teams from Kenya, Egypt, Nigeria and four representative teams from South Africa including the Land Rover development team Above and Beyond competing for top honours on the final day. The four winning teams were Team Gaggenau from Egypt taking fourth place, Rockblend winning third place and the plate winners were Keffi Polo Ranch, from Nigeria.
Team Airbus Helicopters Kenya clinched the coveted Land Rover Africa Cup trophy with a victorious score of 7 – 6 goals in the final chukka. The Most Valued Player award went to Johan Van Reenen, for demonstrating extraordinary sportsmanship and the highest game skills throughout the weekend-long tournament.
Land Rover and the Inanda Club are delighted for yet another excellent tournament, despite Mother Nature’s capricious behaviour with a torrent of rain showers and freezing weather.
More than 3 000 people, including VIPs, sponsors and corporate hospitality clients attended the matches over the tournament. Local celebrities including Top Billing presenter Maps Maponyane, 5FM’s Ayanda Thabethe, fashion blogger and photographer Jerri Mokgofe, former Miss South Africa, Melinda Bam and TV presenter Amanda Du-Pont enhanced the glitz and glamour of the day with their Quintessentially African – Above and Beyond theme inspired fashion.
“We are extremely pleased with the outcome,” said Paul Oosthuizen, General Manager of the Inanda Club. “Extensive planning and work goes into organising this event and the success of this weekend bears testimony to that.”
The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the tournament’s signature Horse vs Machinerace. With Inanda Club’s Craig James in the saddle of a thoroughbred, he faced off against the new Range Rover Evoque Convertible, which won for the third year in succession.
“The 2016 Land Rover Africa Cup was absolutely fantastic, with its largest attendance to date. This event has always been a natural fit for Land Rover – the horses on the field and our cars both boasting capability and composure,” said Richard Gouverneur, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and sub-Sahara Africa. “And what better event to show off the stylish, graceful new Range Rover Evoque Convertible? It’s a car to be seen in, at the event to be seen at.”
Activities throughout the day, included a ticket raffle offering one lucky guest the opportunity to win a pair of 0.64 carrot diamonds. Through the raffle, the club generated R40 000,00 which was donated to one of the Inanda Club’s beneficiaries – the Highveld Horse Care Unit.
Audiences were also treated to a captivating vaulting display by the International Vaulting and Lungeing Academy, performed by children from Diepsloot who displayed a fascinating set of horseback gymnastics.
The success of the Land Rover Africa Cup was made possible with the support of the following sponsors and partners:
Headline and Title Sponsor, Land Rover
City of Johannesburg
Airbus Helicopters
G.H. Mumm Champagne
Gaggenau
Lifestyle partners : African Pride Melrose Arch Hotel
GHD
Sensai
Guerlain
Elemis
La Martina
Jo Anke Art Gallery
Elizabeth Morr
By Word of Mouth
Gearhouse SA
