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The tournament will be held at La Sella from 22nd to 25th April
Antonio Lis, Director General de VCI (Valencian Community Investments); Gonzaga Escauriaza, Chair of the RFEG; Emma Villacieros, Honorary President of the RFEG and President of the International Ladies Golf Federation, and Inigo Aramburu, Director General of Sports & Business, agreed that "the European Cup is an essential reference in world golf" during the press conference held in Madrid for the competition, to be held in La Sella (Denia, Alicante) between 22 and 25 April.
The fact that some of the best players in the world, such as Australia's Karrie Webb, with 7 'majors' and 36 international victories to her name, have requested an invitation to play underlines the tournament’s importance. | |  |
“In principle, the competition is reserved for European teams, but this year 2 invitations have been sent to the U.S. and Australia, although requests from Canada, South Africa, etc., countries with an extensive golfing tradition, have been turned down" said Inigo Aramburu.
 | | A different tournament, involving national teams and in which winning has become a titanic exercise given the fierce competition, where players are treated exquisitely, and with a course, a culinary offer and a hotel of the highest level "are more than sufficient motivation for the players who wish to be present in the European Ladies Cup", agreed all those present. |
“Our presence responds to a commitment which may have seemed strange just three years ago, but which today, and in truth as of the outset, is a wise move. This is not just another tournament. There are other very important events in the Valencia Region, including golfing events, but this tournament represents an innovation, enjoying an enormous media projection that makes it, in relation to the amount of money contributed, in the most profitable after the Formula 1 Grand Prix", said Antonio Lis, CEO of VCI, the tournament's sponsor.
 | | “The global reach is immense, which is a huge benefit for the Valencia Region and for Spain. Additionally, the event has returned excellent results in the surrounding environment, an influx of quality tourism in Denia during low season that benefits the area", says Antonio Lis, who emphasizes the importance of initiatives (contests, painting exhibitions of painting, etc.) aimed at involving the rest of society in the Ladies European Cup. |
Gonzaga Escaruriaza, RFEG President, expressed thanks for the commitment shown by VCI and La Sella "because I recognize the effort involved in committing to something which, fortunately, has worked brilliantly. I get the impression that we’ve organized more than three editions, which means that a lot of work has been carried out, that there has been an excellent promotional campaign. The success of the event is guaranteed. I just hope Emma Cabrera and Tania Elóegui are able to further reasons for cheering. They form a great team and are an example of courage and bravery".
Meanwhile, Emma Villacieros stressed that the Ladies European Cup "has always attracted large crowds. This shows the interest that it generates, that top class ladies golf generates interest among fans, and that La Sella, which is a great course, is capable of providing an exciting spectacle".
Carlos Garcia, Vice President of the Valencia Regional Golf Federation and manager of La Sella, acknowledged that "this is a story that we still find hard to believe. The European Cup has reached a point where the best players in the world are calling to come and play, and that's a leap in quality that shows that we’ve followed the right path. There is a tremendous amount of work carried out on a daily basis, and the success of the vent lies in the fact that we are family, capable of contributing ideas and added-value".
Inigo Aramburu, meanwhile, noted that La Sella has continued to improve to host the tournament - a new approach area and bunkers – and to respond to the presence of top-level players from around the world. "The best players will be here: Karrie Webb, the American couple, Melissa Reid, the image of the Wii, a Swedish team of frightening quality, Gwladys Nocera, the European reference……it’s going to be a great event.". | |
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IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PRESENTATION
Tania didn’t want to miss out
San Sebastian's Elósegui Tania, one of the players who will represent Spain at La Sella, did not want to miss the presentation of the tournament, despite being in Australia competing in the first event of this year’s Ladies European Tour. Since it was impossible to be present in person, Tania said a few words via a video that was shown in the Santiago Echeberría gallery and in which she encouraged everyone to attend "one of the best tournaments that can be seen in Europe . We will do our very best, I assure you".
Painting and golf
Santiago Echeberría welcomed all those present to the art gallery that bears his name and that served as the location for the presentation. Among works by noted Spanish painters, the guests enjoyed a very pleasant day that was something of a novelty in the world of golf. However, this is only the start. During the tournament, La Sella Golf will host an exhibition organized by the Madrid gallery, in collaboration with the Valencia gallery My name is Lolita, centred on works reflecting golfing themes. Painting and golf, an explosive, winning combination that can be seen throughout May in the Santiago Echeberría Gallery.
Fighting to be at La Sella
The exaggeration of the heading does not hide a surprising and wonderful truth: the extraordinary growth of the tournament has led many major players to defend their respective countries in the European Cup rather than to compete in tournaments in the U.S., often offering monetary prizes four times greater than that on offer in Spain. One example is the attitude of the Australian Karrie Webb, a legend in ladies golf and who has had to earn her place at La Sella! In the end, it seems that it's not such an exaggeration to say that players are fighting to be at La Sella ...
Golf turns pink
Few tournaments are so identified with a colour to the extent that the European Cup is identified with the intense pink that characterised its presentation. To give even more colour to a gallery that was already full of striking tones, the organizers installed pink stars on the ceiling with the name of each of the participants. A humorous (and colourful) note was added in the form of a cloud of sweets and "pink panther" buns which were offered to those present after the cocktail. They were all pink, of course.
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