ARGENTINA: PATO HORSE-BALL - Portugal defeats Argentina in the finals of the first ever Pato Horse-ball championship

Record ID: 447845

  • Title: ARGENTINA: PATO HORSE-BALL - Portugal defeats Argentina in the finals of the first ever Pato Horse-ball championship
  • Date: 10th April 2006
  • Summary: (S5) BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (APRIL 9, 2996) (REUTERS) AUDIENCE AT THE FINAL OF THE PATO HORSE-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP (3 SHOTS) ORGANISERS PREPARING A BARRIER FOR THE MATCH (2 SHOTS) PLAYERS COMING OUT ON THE PITCH GAME BEGINNING (2 SHOTS) ARGENTINE TEAM SCORING GOAL AND PLAYERS CELEBRATING PORTUGUESE TEAM SCORING GOAL ARGENTINE TEAM SCORING GOAL AUDIENCE APPLAUDING SOME ROUGH PLAY, WITH PLAYERS HANGING ON HORSES AND PORTUGUESE PLAYER FORCED TO DISMOUNT BOTH TEAMS DISCUSSING GAME PLAN AT HALF TIME PLAYERS PLAYING GAME AND ARGENTINE TEAM SCORING GOAL AUDIENCE APPLAUDING PORTUGUESE TEAM SCORING GOAL ARGENTINE PLAYERS WATCHING FROM THE SIDELINES REFEREE GIVING SIGNALS PORTUGUESE TEAM SCORING WINNING GOAL PORTUGUESE AND ARGENTINE PLAYERS EMBRACING AUDIENCE APPLAUDING ARGENTINE PLAYERS LOOKING DOWNCAST VARIOUS OF BOTH TEAMS DOING A LAP OF THE PITCH (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LUIS MATIAS, CAPTAIN OF THE PORTUGUESE TEAM, SAYING: "We always had the expectation (that we would win). We knew there were strong teams, like France, which is the European champion, and Argentina too. We believe that the Argentine public has been fantastic, at all the games, with the Portuguese team. (We've been supported), and the dream has been realized." PORTUGUESE TEAM CHANTING AND EMBRACING THE ARGENTINE TEAM PORTUGUESE TEAM HOLDING UP THE TROPHY AND CELEBRATING
  • Embargoed: 25th April 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVADXO0MYDF3LJOQP5TKQ84DKXJJ
  • Story Text: Argentina faced off against Portugal in the first ever Pato Horseball championships in Buenos Aires on Sunday (April 9).
    Pato, which literally means duck, is Argentina's official national sport, its name deriving from the live fowl that was originally thrown around before a ball was introduced. The game is played on horseback on sand and nowadays involves a special ball which is thrown from player to player and into a net to score a goal. It was introduced into France and Spain in the 1970s, where it was adapted to the smaller spaces to become horseball.
    On Sunday, teams from all over the world came to Argentina to participate in the championship. Hosts Argentina made it to the final, but found themselves against a strong opponent with Portugal.
    The game, a fast-paced battle for possession of the special ball, had its hairy moments, with players being tipped from their horses at times, and some having to dismount altogether. At full time, the teams were drawn seven all, but a golden goal by Portugal sealed the visitors' victory.
    According to the Portuguese captain Luis Matias, the team believed they had a good chance going into the game, despite the tough opposition.
    "We always had the expectation (that we would win), " he said " We knew there were strong teams, like France, which is the European champion, and Argentina too. We believe that the Argentine public has been fantastic, at all the games, with the Portuguese team. (We've been supported), and the dream has been realised." .
    Over 100 players and trainers attended the championships, from Austria, Germany, France, Spain, England, Canada, Brazil and the United States.
    The sport, which has been played in Argentina since the 17th century, was at one stage banned due to its dangerous nature.
    It was declared Argentina's national sport in 1953.
    The championship was played using only Argentine horses, with each game lasting 20 minutes. Unlike polo, players use the same horse throughout the match.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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