Argentinian polo legend, Adolfo Cambiaso, led a field of top players for the most glamorous event in the UK summer sporting calendar, Sunset Polo.

Cambiaso, the world’s number one ranked player, swung his magic mallet for the charity tournament, held at Ham Polo Club, Richmond, London’s greatest and last surviving polo club.

The round robin tournament saw three teams going head to head - Gaucho/Veuve Clicquot, Camino Real and Horseware Ireland.

The aim was to raise money for Ideas de Sur, a charity set up by Cambiaso ten years ago to help under privileged families and children in Argentina.

(Polo legend Adolfo Cambiaso preparing his horse ahead of Sunset Polo 2011 at Ham Polo Club)

The event – sponsored by Mantis Collection, Gaucho and Veuve Clicquot – was his only UK appearance for the charity this year, and featured a strong family flavour. There were have-a-go polo sessions, bike polo matches, and junior polo games. The evening culminated with a world class match between Team Gaucho, led by Cambiaso, and Camino Real.

(Adrian Gardiner, Chairman, Mantis Collection with John Rendall, International Liaison Officer, Ham Polo Club)

Polo in Argentina borders on a religion, and attracts the most talented players and passionate fans in the world.

Acknowledged as the most talented player to have graced the polo field, Cambiaso is treated as a god in his homeland.

(Sunset Polo 2011 - a great way to unwind after work)

There isn’t a polo trophy that he hasn’t won. He has captained winning teams in seven Grand Slams. He holds 31 Master Cup titles including the Argentine Open and US Open, 15 titles in the World Polo Tour Cup and six in the Challenge Cup. In the 1998 Argentine Open – the fiercest and highest-level polo tournament – he set the record for the number of goals scored, an astonishing 67.

(Adolfo Cambiaso and his boys with John Rendall, International Liaison Officer, Ham Polo Club)

He also had the looks to match – he’s a Jaeger-LeCoultre model. He is married to María Vázquez, Argentina’s most famous model and a TV presenter. His three children all play polo, and competed in the tournament, including the youngest, who at only four is already demonstrating the natural polo flair of his famous father.

(Born to play polo - Adolfo with Cambiaso Junior)

Luxury boutique hotel brand Mantis Collection played an integral part by sponsoring the evening, and fully endorses the great work that the Ideas del Sur Foundation is doing in Argentina.

Sunset Polo also offered Mantis guests a superb opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the English summer coupled with world-class sporting action.

(Paul Gardiner, International Marketing Director, Mantis Collection and friends enjoy an evening of top polo action)

The Mantis Group is a private collection of award-winning, privately owned five star properties located around the world.

It scooped top honours at World Travel Awards by winning both “Africa’s Leading Boutique Hotel Brand” and “Africa’s Leading Game Reserve Brand” last year.

(A superb evening of sporting action at Sunset Polo 2011 hosted at Ham Polo Club)

Divided into three distinct groups, the group’s specialist areas include Boutique Hotels, Game Reserves and Eco Lodges.

(Mantis Collection hospitality area at Sunset Polo 2011)

All of its properties are unique and celebrate the culture, gastronomy, architecture and nature of the location in which they are found.

(Adrian Gardiner with Jeff Ward, GM, Cannizaro House Hotel. The delightful property in Wimbledon SW19 has recently joined the Mantis Collection)

Mantis plans to expand it collection of properties to all seven continents of the world.

It wishes to attach a five star hospitality component to some of the world’s must-see wonders, including the Great Barrier Reef, the Amazon jungle, the tigers and mystical palaces of India and the towering mountains of Nepal.

(Paul Gardiner picks up top honours at World Travel Awards)

This growth will follow the underlying philosophy of the Group’s mantra ‘Conserving a vanishing way of life’.

As the group expands into these key regions it will ensure to do so in a responsible and ecological manner, supporting the local environment through community development projects, conservation of wildlife and the natural resources of the region.

To find out more visit http://www.mantiscollection.com

Watch an interview with Adolfo Camibaso for BTN at Sunset Polo 2011

Watch an interview with Adrian Gardiner, Chairman, Mantis Collection at Sunset Polo 2011

Watch an interview with Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, Chairman, Ham Polo Club at Sunset Polo 2011

Watch an interview with Jeff Ward, General Manager, Cannizaro House part of Mantis Collection at Sunset Polo