Romania emerges as a polo destination: Singureni Manor Polo Cup draws international visitors and announces its 2027 edition
By Mihai Manea, Publisher of Nine O’Clock
Singureni Manor Polo Cup concluded its third edition with all tickets sold, more than 1,000 spectators daily and international visitors travelling to Romania specifically for the tournament. At the close of the three-day competition, the organisers announced the dates for the next edition: 24-26 September 2027. Held from 25 to 27 September 2026, the event brought together four teams representing clubs from Romania, Switzerland, the UK and Germany, alongside prominent figures from sport, fashion and film, diplomats and business leaders. In just three years, the event has become a gathering place for the international polo community and an opportunity for Romanian audiences to discover the sport.
H.E. Giles Portman, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Bucharest, H.E. Darryl Nirenberg, U.S. Ambassador to Romania, Jean Valvis, sponsor of the winning team, and Beatrice Dumitrașcu, CEO of the Residential Division, alongside members of the winning AQUA Carpatica / Red Star Polo Team, following the final of the 2026 Singureni Manor Polo Cup
The opening ceremony of Singureni Manor Polo Cup featured a performance of the Romanian national anthem by Nicolae Furdui Iancu and the Crai Nou Folk Instrumental Ensemble from Alba Iulia, followed by a symbolic moment led by this year’s guest of honour, Nadia Comăneci. Fifty years after earning the first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics history in Montreal, Nadia marked the start of the tournament with the ceremonial throw-in.
Nadia marked the start of the tournament
Guests travelling from abroad specifically for the tournament, international players and media joined Romanian spectators, with foreign ambassadors and members of the diplomatic community among the distinguished guests on Finals’ Day, including H.E. Giles Portman, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Bucharest, H.E. Massimo Baggi, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation, H.E. Darryl Nirenberg, U.S. Ambassador to Romania, and H.E. Tigran Galstyan, Ambassador of Armenia to Romania.
Marina Coandă BunDaC, Chairlady of the IWA Diplomatic Bazaar, was also among the distinguished guests attending the event. Their presence further underscored the international dimension of an event that is increasingly bringing together the worlds of sport, diplomacy, business and culture in Romania.
H.E. Massimo Baggi, Ambassador of Switzerland to Romania, together with members of the CCE-R | Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Romania, including Dr. Adriana Cioca, President of CCE-R, Frank Loeffler, Vice President of CCE-R, and Mihai Manea, CCE-R member and Founder & Publisher of Nine O’Clock, at the 2026 Singureni Manor Polo Cup
Throughout the tournament, Lady Amelia Spencer Mallett and Lady Eliza Spencer, nieces of Diana, Princess of Wales, as well as Kat Graham, the actress known for her role in The Vampire Diaries, also performed ceremonial throw-ins to open matches, continuing this polo tradition.
A sold-out edition drawing international visitors specifically for the tournament
All tickets for this year’s edition, which provided access to the VIP tent, sold out. Guests travelling from abroad specifically for the tournament, players and international media joined Romanian spectators, with nine ambassadors among the guests on Finals’ Day. Refined cuisine and carefully selected drinks complemented the experience, in an atmosphere that combined the energy of the competition with the elegance and hospitality of Singureni Manor. Between matches, guests had the opportunity to socialise and explore the estate’s natural surroundings, enjoying a weekend centred on sport and a shared passion for horses.
“Even while the event was still under way, I was already feeling wistful at the thought of it coming to an end. An entire team works incredibly hard to bring these three days to life, and when you see people enjoying everything you have prepared, you wish you could make the moment last longer. This year, we welcomed back guests who return for every edition and have become part of the Singureni Manor story. They give the tournament its distinctive energy, bringing together sport, friendships and new connections, culinary experiences and the pleasure of spending time in nature. We wanted to give this community reasons to return beyond the tournament weekend, so we invested in the facilities that make Singureni Manor a year-round polo destination. Our Polo School continues to grow each year, and with it, so do our ambitions for the future of the sport in Romania,” said Cristina Roșu, founder of the Singureni Polo Sports Club Association and captain of the Singureni Manor Polo Club team.
AQUA Carpatica / Red Star Polo Team lifts the 2026 trophy
AQUA Carpatica / Red Star Polo Team, from the UK, won the 2026 Singureni Manor Polo Cup with an 8–3½ victory over Germany’s CARPATHIAN / Norddeutscher Polo Club in the final. Both teams entered the tournament’s deciding match undefeated, with the British side securing victory through sustained attacking play from the opening chukka.
The home team, OSCAR Downstream / Singureni Manor Polo Club, secured third place with a 9–8 win over CORINTHIA / SASS’ Restaurant & Lounge / Evviva Polo Club, St. Moritz, in a closely contested match that went down to the final moments.
Mikey Henderson was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament, having played a pivotal role in the British team’s victory. Christian Grimme received the Best Playing Patron award, while Canario Macho, owned and played by Lukas Sdrenka, was named Best Playing Pony.
From the Polo School to international competition
The 2026 edition also highlighted the progress of Romanian players. Joining Cristina Roșu on the Singureni Manor Polo Club team was Cosmin Ghiță, a surgeon who discovered the sport at the Polo School. Despite a demanding professional schedule, he continued to train and went on to represent the club in an international tournament. His journey illustrates the school’s role in building a local community of players and developing polo in Romania.
The tournament’s growth is supported by investments that are transforming Singureni Manor into a year-round polo destination. The estate now has two full-size grass polo fields, the sand arena that hosted the competition, 40 polo ponies and international coaches.
The project developed by Cristina Roșu benefits from the support of Reto Gaudenzi, Founder and President of World Polo, and the involvement of Tito Gaudenzi as Polo Manager. The international polo community will next gather at Singureni Manor from 24 to 26 September 2027.
The event is supported by: ONE United Properties, OSCAR Downstream, Range Rover, Raiffeisen Private Banking, Aqua Carpatica, Corinthia Grand Hotel du Boulevard Bucharest, SASS’ Restaurant & Lounge, Carpathian Single Malt, Mediascope – Technology & Innovation Partner, Murfatlar, Kultho Forever Diamonds, ClassIN, Renovatio, Nespresso, BlackCab, Technogym, Asirom, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Nestlé, Camera de Comerț Elveția–România, Jos Pălăria, Clinica Statera – Dr. Florian Juravle, Pepsi, Tudor Tailor, Clinica Academică Prof. Dr. Barbu, Noblesse, Happy Family, Eye Temple, Casablanca, St. Moritz – Top of the World, Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz and the media partners: Pro TV, Nine O’Clock, ICON by BIZ, Forbes, Business Review and The Gentlemen’s Journal.
About Singureni Manor Equestrian Retreat
Singureni Manor Equestrian Retreat is an equestrian estate located in the heart of a nearly 700-hectare forest, 40 kilometres from Bucharest. The estate brings together a grass polo field, the Singureni Polo School, accommodation and fine-dining experiences, as well as Paul’s Clubhouse, and hosts the international Singureni Manor Polo Cup tournament.
Polo Singureni Sports Club was established in 2024 as an association dedicated to organising and delivering equestrian polo activities for people in Romania and beyond. Its primary objective is to raise the profile of polo in Romania and encourage participation in the sport. To this end, the Club organises training programmes, dedicated camps and training sessions to prepare athletes for competitive events, as well as polo tournaments conducted in accordance with the rules and statutes of national and international sports federations.
World Polo is a company founded in 1987 by Reto Gaudenzi, a polo enthusiast and player. Over the years, the company has organised snow, beach and grass polo tournaments, including the 1987 European Championships in Berlin, the 1989 World Championships at Berlin’s Maifeld sports ground, the 1993 European Championships and the World Championships held in St. Moritz two years later. Gaudenzi also introduced Beach Polo as a world first in Dubai, together with Al Habtoor. He later established the Beach Polo World Cup in Miami, now successfully organised by his son, Tito. The Snow Polo World Cup Kitzbühel is another event created by Gaudenzi. It celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023 and is now organised by Tito Gaudenzi and his team.
Bucharest, 29 September 2026.
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