I was just thinking a few days ago that I’d made it all the way through April without hearing anything about the annual King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament. Since 2006, it’s usually been held in April in Chiang Saen district of Chiang Rai province, up in what is known as the Golden Triangle.
So I did some checking, and Lo and Behold! They’ve moved the tournament back down to Hua Hin on the Upper Peninsula, for the first time in six years. And it will be held in September this year, just like it always was when they held it there before. Due to differences in weather patterns, they had to change the date of the tournament to April after moving it up North. I remember the first one in Chiang Saen, 2006, the last one I played in, and it was in September. But no one thought about the rain that time of year there, and it got pretty muddy. April is bone dry in most places.
So here is the info for those of you making plans: The 2011 King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament, Hua Hin, Thailand, September 5-11. The Anantara Resorts is the main sponsor of the event in Thailand and a major contributor to elephant conservation and welfare. It’s a fun time, for the elephants too; they are very well treated and seem to enjoy it a lot.
Other pertinent links:
World Elephant Polo Association, based in Kathmandu.
