And now for some polo in Hong Kong
By Victoria Elsbury-Legg
From the seed of an idea to put Hong Kong polo back on the global map, headed up by Founder and CEO of Asia World Polo Dave Savage, great things have grown. In his words, ‘Asia World Polo is passionate about Polo and brings a totally fresh approach to the ’Sport of Kings. Our vision is to bring the best of the world of Polo to Asia for everyone to watch, participate in and enjoy and to ultimately build a Polo Club in Hong Kong.’
With this in mind and a team of dedicated individuals behind the project, from Torrey Dorsey (Commercial Director at the RHKYC and former General Manager of the Singapore Polo Club) to Richard Cameron and Pato Furlong (an Argentine banker and four goal player based in Hong Kong) this vision got underway and has now very much become a reality. The inaugural match is being played as we speak at the Thai Polo Club, Pattaya, between 26 and 30 November, the team line-up for this monumental polo moment for Hong Kong includes: K Kwan Lo, Aron Harilela, Lynly Fong and Shanghai Tang executive chairman, Raphael le Masne de Chermont. Future Asia World Polo games are scheduled to take place in China, Singapore and the Philippines.
Following on from this inaugural match, on Friday 5th December, the rest of the Hong Kong Polo Team will be announced at the Hong Kong Polo After Dark Launch Party to be held at Boujis, 37 Pottinger St, Central in Hong Kong from 7.30pm – late (for more details contact nicole@asiaworldpolo.com ).
With a team of long-term residents and local nationals forming the new polo team and a programme of regional tours already planned and in place (not to mention the residential courses which are available with one to one tuition by a personal polo coach for those in Hong Kong who would like to learn more about the sport) Asia World Polo is also looking forward to 2017 when The Hong Kong Polo Club is due to be launched. Backed by Guards Polo Club and with their team shirts emblazoned with the logos of sponsors from stamp merchant Stanley Gibbons, equestrian magazine Equestrio, concierge Quintessentially Lifestyle, and those names synonymous with so generously supporting polo worldwide -Jaeger-LeCoultre and Royal Salute – it would seem Asia World Polo and team Hong Kong are truly destined to add even more international flavour to the vibrant and passionate worldwide polo scene.