Emirati and Indian Royalty marked the start of the 2015 British Polo Day Global Series at British Polo Day Abu Dhabi, UAE, last week.

Over 200 VIPs and guests including Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Sheikh Sultan bin Falah Al Nahyan, Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur and his father Maharaj Narendra Singh of Jaipur, His Grace the Duke of Argyll, Ambassador to the UAE Philip Parham, CMG, and Jaeger – LeCoultre’s Marc de Panafieu and his wife Princess Alexandra Cantacuzene – Speransky attended the black-tie evening event. 

Held on March 21 at Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, the private Royal Club of HH Sheikh Falah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, British Polo Day Abu Dhabi raised £35,000 for Women and Health Alliance (WAHA) and Help for Heroes.

Some of Britain’s best young players including George Meyrick and Jamie Morrison flew in, courtesy of Etihad Airways, to take to the prestigious pitch of Ghantoot – one of only three floodlit pitches in the world. 

Whisked from the InterContinental Abu Dhabi in chauffeur-driven Land Rovers, guests arrived to a Champagne Taittinger reception, blooming pop-up Harrods garden party – complete with caricaturist and Harrods Green Man Robert Taylor – and a traditional game of camel polo. 


CAMEL POLO

The Hackett Camel Polo Trophy saw members of the British Army’s elite Cavalry and Guards regiments go head-to- head in a lofty battle which ended in a draw.

From camel hump to bicycle pump, the British Exiles and Rest of World teams took to the pitch for an amusing and quintessential British game of Brompton Bicycle Polo. The British Exiles put the pedal to the medal and won 3-2.

The highlight of the evening’s polo was undoubtedly the British Polo Day Plate, presented by Land Rover. A closely-fought battle between The Exiles and Ghantoot Polo Team, saw the latter take home the bespoke trophy by British Silverware.

Sheikha Lubna, Saeed bin Houfan Al Mansouri, Vice Chairman of the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club, and Parham took to the stage to present the evening’s prizes.

The Hackett Camel Polo Trophy was jointly presented to the Cavalry and Guards regiments for their rather diplomatic draw, while Ghantoot took home the British Polo Day Plate.

Royal Salute’s ‘Most Valuable Player’ George Meyrick was presented with a bottle of Diamond Tribute, while the Holland & Holland ‘Shot of The Day’ was awarded to Ghantoot’s Abdullah bin Desmal and ‘Best Playing Pony - sponsored and presented by Jaeger-LeCoultre, the official timekeeper for British Polo Day - went to Despreciada, ridden by Clemente Zavaleta of Ghantoot Polo Team.

Taylor then presented the Harrods ‘Luck of the Draw’ to Mikaela Lovelund from InterContinental Abu Dhabi.


AUCTION

Guests then sat down to a three-­course dinner by Gaucho – expertly paired by fine wines from Royal Warrant holders Justerini & Brooks. 

Colonel Simon Ledger then raised his gavel to start the evening’s charity auction for the benefit of WAHA and Help for Heroes. With lots including an iconic handmade Brompton bicycle, a stay for two at Marrakech’s Royal Mansour, four nights in the private residence on Velaa Private Island and a week in one of 3rd Home’s luxurious properties, the auction raised an impressive £35,000 ($52,100).

The second leg of British Polo Day’s UAE Tour – British Polo Day Dubai - will be held this Friday. Hosted by the Habtoor Family at the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, this is the birthplace of British Polo Day and the setting for its very first event in 2009.

The official timekeeper for both British Polo Day Abu Dhabi and British Polo Day Dubai is Jaeger-LeCoultre. 

No watch can claim to be closer to the world of polo than Jaegeer-LeCoultre’s Reverso. It was designed in 1931 at the request of British polo players in India and is therefore fitting to be partnered with British Polo Day, the firm says.

The events are partnered with Land Rover, Hackett London, Royal Salute, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Taittinger, Abercrombie & Kent, Billionaire.com, Justerini & Brooks, Brompton, Global Partnership Family Office, Holland & Holland, Charles Russell Speechlys, Etihad, Gavel&Grand, Great British Racing International, British Silverware, Taylor Morris, Prestat, 3RD HOME, Nihiwatu, Jax Coco, Gaucho, Floris, Etihad, RMAL Hospitality, Paul A Young Fine Chocolates, The Grosvenor Stationery Company, D.R. Harris & Co, Bonas MacFarlane Education, InterContinental Hotel Abu Dhabi, Sofitel Luxury Hotels, Pullman Jumeirah Lakes Towers Hotel & Residence, Platinum Heritage, Walpole and Pendragon Productions.

The other 2015 British Polo Day events will be held in Dubai, China Great Britain, India, Mexico, Morocco, Singapore, US, and a unique global gathering at Nihiwatu, on Sumba Island.

British Polo Day showcases over 30 top British luxury brands and acts as a conduit for championing craftsmanship and heritage in emerging markets.

To date, British Polo Day has raised more than $1.2 million for extremely worthy causes across the world.