PONYLINES
DOMINIC JAMES
ONE TO WATCH German-born Harald Link took his first polo lesson from Hugh Dawnay in 1998 in Thailand, at the height of the Asian crisis, and was hooked. A naturalised Thai who owns and runs the infrastructure, energy and leisure conglomerate B. Grimm, he plays all over the world at different levels: 22-goal in England and Argentina, and 12-goal in Thailand, Malaysia and Germany. He is an avid student of the game who enjoys playing against the world’s best players, talking to former and current greats and seeing their performances close up. In 2005, Link founded the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club with entrepreneur and equestrian Nunthinee Tanner (pictured), who is considered the first female polo player in Thailand. Set in 2,000 acres east of Pattaya, just 90 minutes from Bangkok, it has three world-class fields, an indoor arena and endurance and jumping courses. Its clubhouses are idyllically set among waving palm trees and lush vegetation. Thai Polo is as well known for its fun, relaxed style of play as for its legendary parties (see page 54). Plans are underway to hold a Thai event in England this summer.
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