Gibson Guitar Sponsors the New Zealand Polo Team at the 22nd Cartier International Polo

Press release
Source: Gibson Guitar

The 22nd Cartier International Polo kicked off in style with 28,000 people flocking to the centre court of Polo; Smiths Lawn. This annual polo tournament is the pinnacle of the English summer season and is held in the manicured grounds of Windsor Great Park at the Guards Polo Club. This year England took on the mighty New Zealand team (Sponsored by Gibson Guitar) for the coveted Coronation Cup. This year was the third year Gibson Guitar sponsored the visiting team. Following a dramatic and visual performance of the New Zealand war dance the Haka, HRH Prince Harry took to the Royal Box with girlfriend Chelsea Davy to watch six chukkas of world class high goal polo. HM The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were unable to attend due to a sailing holiday in Scotland.

Following a closely fought match England beat rivals New Zealand 9 – 7. England started the game two goals up due to a handicap difference, this shaped the match throughout which helped produce the win. The match had all the necessary ingredients to keep everyone on the edge of their seats; excitement, passion, energy and good deal of luck.

Over in the trade village Gibson Guitar provided one on one guitar lessons to the public in the new Gibson Pure tent making it an interactive and memorable experience. The tent was fully stocked with many of the Gibson Guitar and Epiphone range on display.

Guitars on show included the new Gibson Les Paul and SG Goddess, Les Paul GT, New Century Explorer and Zakk Wylde Les Paul Bullseye. A selection of rare Gibson acoustics included a classic Hummingbird Custom - with hand inlaid and engraved hummingbirds on the headstock and the work-of-art pick guard which is an inlaid and engraved version of its classic 1960's original Gibson pick guard. A Gibson J-45 Rosewood Vine - custom shop edition of Gibson's famous round shouldered model from the 1940s with an elaborate fingerboard vine, made of abalone and mother of pearl and a Gibson SJ-200 Art Shop Vine - Gibson most famous Super Jumbo model with an elegant potted vine inlay and an original hand carved neck heel, surrounded by intense flamed KOA wood from Hawaii.

Following the polo, the main party kicked off with 4,000 revellers raising the roof into the small hours in the famous China White tent. In the Players marquee new Gibson solo artist James Morrison took to the stage to perform several tracks from his debut album. Once again Gibson Guitar stood shoulder to shoulder with Cartier to add further prestige and a rock edge to the day.

The Teams were:

England: James Beim (6); Mark Tomlinson (6); Henry Brett (7); Luke Tomlinson (capt,7).

New Zealand: Simon Keyte (7); Tommy Morrison (7); John Paul Clarkin (capt,8); Cody Forsyth (6).

About Gibson Guitar:
Gibson is known worldwide for creating classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins and banjos. The Gibson HD.6X Pro digital guitar represents the biggest advance in electric guitar design in over 70 years. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, MI, and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.’s family of brands includes Epiphone, Valley Arts, Dobro, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Slingerland, Maestro, Baldwin, Hamilton, Chickering and Wurlitzer. Visit Gibson’s website at www.gibson.com

For more information on Gibson Guitar please visit www.gibson.com.

For more information on the Cartier International Polo please visit www.guardspoloclub.com.

---