Sun, Mar 8, 2015


Lifestyle
British Polo series to kick off in Abu Dhabi


The 2015 British Polo Day Global series kicks off in Abu Dhabi, UAE, later this month. 

Now in its sixth edition, British Polo Day Abu Dhabi starts the ball rolling for the series, presented by Land Rover, on Saturday, March 21. 

Some of Britain’s best young players will take to the prestigious pitch of Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club for an evening of fast-paced polo, fine dining and philanthropy. 

The club is one of only three floodlit pitches in the world and the private royal club of His Highness Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Arriving in chauffeured Land Rovers to a glamourous black tie Taittinger reception, guests will enjoy a traditional game of camel polo – the Hackett Camel Polo Cup – followed by the eagerly-anticipated Land Rover Trophy between the British Exiles and the home team Ghantoot, eager to maintain last year’s victory. Guests will then sit down to a three-course dinner by Gaucho, followed by a charity auction for the benefit of the Women and Health Alliance (Waha)) and Help for Heroes. 

With lots including seven days on the edge of wildness at exclusive retreat Nihiwatu, Sumba; a week in one of 3rd Home’s luxurious properties; and a private Taittinger reception and dinner for four at Wiltons (with a unique Royal Salute Quaich experience and fine Davidoff Cigars), British Polo Day hopes to kick off an impressive year of fundraising, which has to date contributed over $1.2million to worthy causes.

Travelling with Abercrombie & Kent, guests, players and polo enthusiasts will then spend the proceeding days exploring the region including Abu Dhabi’s majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, its sweeping Corniche, boat trips across the crystal clear waters of the Gulf and the architectural wonders of Dubai’s spectacular skyscrapers and world-famous islands. 

Then, on Friday March 27, British Polo Day Dubai returns to the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, the birthplace of British Polo Day and the setting for its very first event in 2009. 

Hosts, the Habtoor family, will welcome an anticipated 500 VIP guests for a day of camel, Brompton bicycle and traditional polo!

A firm fixture on the sporting and social calendar, British Polo Day Dubai falls on the first day of the region’s biggest equine weekend – that of the 20th Anniversary of the Dubai World Cup Races. 

Marking the momentous occasion, members of the elite Cavalry and Guards Regiments of the British Army will entertain guests with the Hackett Camel Polo Cup match followed by Eton vs Harrow Brompton bicycle polo. 

Following this, players from the prestigious British institutions of Oxford and Cambridge will compete for the Falcon Cup against local players from the Dubai Polo club, while hosts and generous patrons, Habtoor Polo finally take on the British Exiles team.

Tom Hudson, Co-Founder of British Polo Day, says: “We are delighted that the British Polo Day series has become a global platform that celebrates the history and heritage of polo whilst also raising significant amounts for good causes.  We began in the UAE in 2009 and always feel that this is the home of British Polo Day and that the success of the event is no small part due to the vision and spirit in the UAE.  We are also proud to be working with so many of the world’s best brands to deliver an unrivalled experience for our guests.”  

All British Polo Day guests will travel through official travel partner, Abercrombie & Kent.  

British Polo Days are invitation-only events and for invitations, apply here

The general public can attend British Polo Day Dubai and watch pitchside by paying Dh150 per car on arrival.

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, Gavel&Grand, Great British Racing International, British Silverware, Taylor Morris, Prestat, 3rd Home, Nihiwatu, Jax Coco, The Grosvenor Stationery Company, D.R. Harris & Co, Bonas MacFarlane Education, Walpole, Pendragon Productions, Redburn Events and Gaucho.





© Al Hilal Group all rights reserved. Designed & Developed by North Star.