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Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne Team
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Mr. Christopher Stafford
Christopher is famous for bringing Elephant Polo to Thailand whilst he was VP & General Manager of Anantara Hua Hin. Since then he has spent time practicing his skills around the world, including a stint in the Maldives experimenting with shark polo as VP & GM of the Anantara/Naldhu archipelago. Chris first played short stick horse polo in Ethiopia during Emperor Haile Selassie’s reign. Later in Singapore he took up the reins again at the Singapore Polo Club studying with Pakistan national captain, Sattar Kahn.
Swedish-born, British-educated and at home wherever he lays his hat, Chris brought the King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament to Thailand in 2001, and has played in every elephant polo tournament since, reaching the semi-finals playing for American Express in 2003 and 2004, the semi finals with the WEPA Legends in 2007, and with Moet & Chandon in the 2008 King’s Cup Tournament. He carries a handicap only eclipsed by his bar tab.
Chris Stafford was World Cup Finalist with the Chivas Team in Nepal in 2007 and also with the TEPA Team as Captain in the final of the World Cup in 2009 in Nepal. This is his 17th Elephant Polo Tournament combining events in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Nepal. |
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Mr. Bjorn Richardson
Vice-president and co-founder of TEPA (Thailand Elephant Polo Association), Bjorn captained the Thai team to a silver medal in the 2003 WEPA championships. In the 2008 WEPA event he swears he witnessed the goal of the century (though no one else can recall the morning), as well as pioneering a new fusion game of marathon cricket much to the dismay of his batting partner. A resident of Thailand since 1994, Bjorn is also an avid golfer, which allegedly causes serious problems with his polo swing! Bjorn now works for Oakwood, “The Most Trusted Name in Serviced Apartments Worldwide, offering both daily and extended stay accommodation throughout Asia Pacific, the US and Europe.” |
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Col Raj Kalaan
Known as the Silver Fox, Col Raj Kalaan is a legend of both the horse and elephant polo worlds. Having played horse polo for India in the 1970s and 1980s, Raj turned his skills to the pachyderm variety in 1987 and became captain of the Oberoi team which won the WEPA Championship in December 1989. However, his more exuberant love for Scotch saw him enjoy a high profile transfer to the Chivas Scotland team.
The Silver Fox is a WEPA veteran who has won 6 championships and the coveted King's Cup twice. Never short of a word, he has charmed the world's media from the Steppes of Mongolia to the Cape of Good Hope with his articulate anecdotes from years of merry adventure. Watch out for Raj on the pitch; having refreshed himself during the Royal Salute week in Jodhpur over the New Year drinking the 21 year old nectar, he is raring to go! The Silver Fox and his wife Sunny are both recognised for their selfless dedication and commitment to the development of this great sport. Selected to play alongside the two renowned players of Thailand, Chris Stafford and Bjorn Richardson, the Veuve Clicquot Team could surprise the favourites by staging a coup de main. |
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Mr. Robert Mullis
Robert Mullis unfortunately missed last year’s elephant polo tournament, but has been practicing regularly at the bar. The attraction of returning to play for a decent drinks company was simply too hard to refuse. Negotiations on the quantity of Veuve Cliquot that would be provided to the players were intense but thirst quenching. Fortunately Robert is supported by Raj Kalaan; one of India’s leading distilleries. As Chiang Saem is home for his family, Robert is extremely honoured that Veuve Cliquot have invited him to play and hopes that the team will live up to the grand champagne’s history. |
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