Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge – Day One
Victories for Cartier Red, Desert Palm and Abu Dhabi in the opening matches of the 10th Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge. Held at Ali Albwardy’s impressive Desert Palm Polo Club, the day started with the official shirt presentation. Carla Abboud, PR and Events Director of Cartier Middle East and India and Neil Hobday, Chief Executive of Guards Polo Club, awarded shirts to each team. In addition Cartier gave Valentine’s gifts for everyone, players and spectators, too.
First to play were Clive Reid and Tariq Albwardy’s Cartier Red squad on the Clubhouse ground. Their opposition was the highly regarded UAE Polo Team, patroned by HH Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. However, Matias Zavaleta was the first to score – putting a goal home for Cartier Red – and this team went on to dominate the remainder of the match, winning 7-3. UAE had closed the gap to 4-3 at half-time but then allowed Cartier Red to get away from them once again in the second half.
Cartier White, featuring Rashid Al Habtoor and his son Khalaf, were not so fortunate in the second game of the day. They lost 10-5 to the home side Desert Palm. Two of the youngest players in this tournament, Rashid Albwardy and Tom Brodie, were on great form for Desert Palm, scoring goals and brilliantly supporting their more senior team-mates, Alan Meeker and Diego Cavanagh.
Action moved to the hotel ground for the third and final game of the day. This saw a comprehensive victory for Faris Al Yabhouni’s Abu Dhabi team. They overwhelmed Amr Zedan and HRH Prince Abbas Bin Ali Bin Nayef’s Guards team 11-3. Alfredo Cappella, distinctive in his red helmet, was on flying form for the Abu Dhabi side, but it was their co-ordination as a team that paid dividends.
However this is only day one! There are many matches still to be played before Saturday’s final – and more teams will be finding their winning form before the week is over.
Cartier Red: Clive Reid (0); Martin Valent (2); Tariq Albwardy (1); Matias Zavaleta (7).
UAE Polo Team: Sandra Schneider (-1); HH Sheikha Maitha Al Maktoum (0); Santiago Stirling (4); Lucas Monteverde (9).
Desert Palm: Alan Meeker (0); Rashid Albwardy (2); Tom Brodie (2); Diego Cavanagh (8).
Cartier White: Rashid Al Habtoor (0); Khalaf Al Habtoor (-1); Joaquin Pittaluga (7); Nacho Gonzalez (6).
Abu Dhabi: Faris Al Yabhouni (0); Nasser Al Shamsi (1); Ernesto Oscar Trotz (4); Alfredo Cappella (7).
Guards: HRH Prince Abbas (0); Amr Zedan (0); Pablo Casero (2); Pablo MacDonough (10).
Next games – Sunday 15th February at Desert Palm
14.00 Cartier Red v Cartier White on the Clubhouse Ground
15.15 Desert Palm v Guards on the Hotel Ground
16.30 Abu Dhabi v UAE Polo Team on Hotel Ground