Gibson Guitar Sponsors Winning Chilean Team at 23rd Cartier International Polo

Press release
Source: Gibson Guitar

The 23rd Cartier International Polo took place with 25,000 people descending on the centre court of Polo; Smiths Lawn. This prestigious 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 highly respected Chilean team which was sponsored by Gibson Guitar for the coveted Coronation Cup. This was the fourth year Gibson Guitar sponsored the visiting team and the second victory for the Chileans following their win against England back in 2004.

Following a closely contested 6 Chukka high goal match, Chile beat rivals England 9 – 8 led by Jose Donoso, the younger brother of Gabriel. Chile were invited back to play in memory of Gabriel Donoso who tragically died in a polo accident last year. Watched on by Gibson Guitar’s Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz with his family from the Royal Box, Chile started the game one goal 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 skill.

"It was a very emotional day, and a performance by our team which my brother would have been proud of," Donoso said after the match. "We won this match for Gabriel. "The match looked an even contest for the first half, with the score tied at 4-4 after three chukkas, but Chile grew in confidence, making their decisive mark on the encounter in the fourth chukka, with three goals from man-of-the-match Jaime Huidobro and one from Martin Zegers.

Following the match, Henry Juszkiewicz took his position in the official team and sponsors line up with the Coronation Cup being presented this year by Prince Michael of Kent.

Over in the trade village Gibson Guitar exhibited the new Gibson European tour bus as well as a selection of custom electric and acoustic guitars over in the Gibson Pure tent making it a memorable and interactive experience. The tent was fully stocked with many of the Gibson Guitar range on display such as the new Gibson HD 6X Pro Digital Les Paul, the Jimmy Page Signature Gibson Les Paul and the Paul McCartney Epiphone 1964 Texan. 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 was also on public display.

Once again Gibson Guitar stood shoulder to shoulder with Cartier to add further prestige and a rock edge to the day.

The Polo teams were:

England: James Beim (6); Luke Tomlinson (Capt) (6); Henry Brett (7); Nacho Gonzalez (6).

Chile: Jose Rafael Zegers (4); Martin Zegers (6); Jose Donoso (Capt) (7); Jaime Huidobro (8).

Photo Gallery

The 23rd Cartier International Polo. Photo: Centaur Photographic.

Winners of the 23rd Cartier International Polo. Photo: Centaur Photographic.

Gibson Guitar’s Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz with the Chile Polo Team. Photo: Centaur Photographic.

The New Gibson European Tour Bus. Photo: Centaur Photographic.

There's always time to jam. Gibson Guitar’s Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz at the Gibson tent.. Photo: Centaur Photographic.

About Gibson Guitar:
Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and banjos. Gibson’s HD.6X-PRO Digital Guitar represents the biggest advance in electric guitar design in over 70 years. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.’s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Maestro, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Echoplex, Electar, Flatiron, Gibson Baldwin Music Education, Slingerland, Valley Arts, Maestro, Oberheim, Sunshine Piano, Take Anywhere Technology, Baldwin, J&C Fischer, Chickering, Hamilton, and Wurlitzer. Visit Gibson’s website at www.gibson.com.

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