Those un-fore-gettable moments

On Friday, May 28th, at the same time the 16th Eurobuild CEE Annual Tennis Tournament was taking place across town, the 20th Eurobuild CEE Annual Golf Tournament was being held at the First Warsaw Golf and Country Club in Rajszewo, just north of the city. And the action on the golf course was captured for posterity by our media patron, Golf Channel Polska, which was on hand to film the players from the very first tee-off. Thanks to this, all those taking part will be able to re-live all the special moments they had on the day as they watch the highlights of the tournament and interviews with the players.

The play got underway at 9 am. The high spirits of the players and, as always, the equally high attendance, proved once again that golf is good for both your physical and emotional health. But regular training is also required to play at a high level. And one very notable outcome of this is that all the trophies this year in the 2nd HCP stableford net session were won by women. With 43, 42 and 41 strokes respectively, the top places were taken by Kinga Zych, Małgorzata Więcko and Monika Matusiak. The differences between the top three were clearly marginal, while the overall level of the tournament itself was very high. Kinga Zych also triumphed in the Ladies’ Longest Drive competition.

Marcin Mech, Robert Kubiak and Michael Davis, meanwhile, were the winners of the 1st HCP stroke play net competition. And, as in the other handicap group, one of these turned out to be a double winner – Michael Davis, who was also the most precise chipper of the ball, winning the Nearest to the Pin competition. The longest drive among the gentlemen was won by Michał Jadwisiak, while Bogdan Bigus ended the day as the winner in the gross stroke play category, with 77 strokes.

And some words of congratulation should also go to the winners in the golf academy: to Piotr Stelmach for the longest drive, and Richard Aboo for the Nearest to the Pin. We hope to see some of the alumni of the academy playing in the main events of the tournament in the future.

Along with Golf Channel Polska and the main sponsor of the event, Panattoni, we would also like to thank our other sponsors, Dussmann, Reesco, Immobel and White Star, along with the prize sponsors Komu Group, Tailors Club and Centrum Golfa – without whom this tournament would not have been possible!

There were many causes for celebration on May 28th. Summer seemed to have arrived together with the easing of the lockdown. And it was also the day on which Eurobuild was able to hold its first face-to-face events since the restrictions were imposed last autumn. Not even a pandemic could stop the 16th Eurobuild CEE Annual Tennis Tournament taking place along with our 20th Golf Tournament on the same day – and the sun certainly shined on both events.

Our tennis tournament seemed to embody the prospects for a return to normality, as it was once again held on the courts of the Warszawianka tennis club in Warsaw’s Mokotów district. The sounds of the first rallies could be heard at around 9 am, while the last shots were played at around 6 pm. The winners in all three categories, the men’s and women’s singles and the doubles, were notable for being the same as last year. And the doubles even featured the same two pairs in the final. If that isn’t a return to normality, I don’t know what is!

Krzysztof Stempień won the men’s singles for the third time in a row, beating off a brave challenge from Anton Bashtavy, who in the end had to make do with second place. Mateusz Anioł and Bartosz Hys each finished in third place. As Krzysztof Stempień was keen to emphasise after his win, his victory was the culmination of many years of hard work in training and competitions – he has been playing tennis since he was a child and there was even a period in his life when he took to the court every day. But the question everyone is now asking is whether someone will emerge to finally take the crown from him next year.

Last year’s women’s champion, Monika Żywiecka, could be seen on the Warszawianka courts the day before the tournament getting in some last minute practice at the net. And, as everyone knows, practice makes perfect. As a result, she was able to make a brilliant defence of the title she won last year, picking off each of her opponents one-by-one in a devastating onslaught: 6: 0, 6: 1 and 6: 2. The runner-up was Agata Stelmach, while Agnieszka Bejda took third place.

In the final of the doubles both this year’s men singles and last year’s doubles finalists faced each other across the net. The players, who are obviously experienced at this format, did not disappoint us – and, in fact, the same two pairs came first and second in the category last year. Krzysztof Stempień undoubtedly clicks together with his partner Filip Bojdo, since they eventually triumphed to take the doubles crown, despite the gallant efforts of runners-up Bartosz Hys and Anton Bashtavy. Joint third place was taken by brothers Jacek and Michał Małaszyński as well as Mateusz Anioł and Michał Literski.

The amazing physical condition of all the competitors should put a lot of us (myself included) to shame for all the pounds we’ve put on during the lockdown. But it should also inspire us to do something about that by following their example and letting nothing get in the way of keeping fit. And, as they showed, staying in good condition can also be a lot of fun too. So we would like to thank the main sponsor of the event, APP-Projekt, and to the prize sponsor Tailors Club, and give our congratulations to all the players for keeping in such fantastic shape, their excellent play and for entertaining us all so much once again!

Our most important sporting events of the year, the Eurobuild CEE Annual Tennis and Golf Tournament, were held on Friday, May 28th. We always eagerly look forward to this occasion, because it gives us all the opportunity to get out from behind our desks and spend a few hours in the open air, as well as the chance to meet up with some old friends. These were the first post-pandemic events that Eurobuild has held in the real – rather than the virtual – world. And, as we saw, there was a very obvious hunger for such a meeting, with the turnout exceeding all our expectations.

After the competition, it was time for the traditional after-party and the presentation of the prizes. This time we checked in at Barka, a restaurant on a barge permanently moored on Warsaw’s Vistula embankment. Under Eurobuild’s banner, we celebrated the sporting prowess of players from the real estate sector, while finally being able to enjoy once again the freedom of socialising without masks (albeit at a distance) before letting our hair down on the dance floor. Thanks to our partners and sponsors, we were also able to provide our guests with some much needed nourishment after their sporting exertions – char-grilled vegetables with goat’s cheese, baked potatoes with rosemary, ribs in a piquant sauce and roasted corn-on-the-cob. It was all simply delicious!

We would like to thank all the players and organisers, and we are also grateful to our sponsors: Panattoni, APP-Projekt, Immobel Group, 44 Luxury Rentals, Reesco, Dussmann, White Star, Komu Group, Masters Golf, Tailors Club and Centrum Golf. Many thanks must also go to our wonderful media patrons: Golf Chanel, Tenis Klub and Golf & Roll. Although the barge was moored for the duration of the party, it could be said that such enjoyable and healthy lifestyle-promoting events help us to sail away from the dark shores of the pandemic into happier waters, to reinvigorate ourselves, and generate the energy needed for further activity. The words spoken by the players at the end of both tournaments and during the evening banquet also suggest that the most important sports event in the real estate sector once again achieved its goals this year, while the next one promises to be even more entertaining. So see you all again next year!

The full photo gallery for the golf tournament can be viewed here and for the tennis tournament here.