PRINCE HARRYS TEAM SENTEBALE WINS SECOND ANNUAL VEUVE CLICQUOT MANHATTAN POLO CLASSIC; CELEBS AND NEW YORK SOCIALS TURN OUT FOR MATCH IN SUPPORT OF AMERICAN FRIENDS OF SENTEBALE
Madonna, Kate Hudson, Marc Jacobs, Chloe Sevigny, LL Cool J, Donna Karan, First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson, Among Thousands of Spectatorsin Attendance at Star-Studded Event
(New York, NY) — Veuve Clicquot welcomed HRH Prince Henry of Wales during his first-ever formal visit to the United States at the second annual Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic, which took place on Saturday, May 30th on the historic Governors Island. The charity polo match benefited American Friends of Sentebale, a U.S.-based charity that supports at-risk children in Lesotho, Africa. Sentebale was co-founded by HRH Prince Henry of Wales and HRH Prince Seeiso Bereng Seeiso of Lesotho in honor of their mothers, Diana, Princess of Wales and Queen ‘Mamohato, respectively.
Prince Harry assisted in the winning goal for Team Sentebale, which celebrated the 6-5 victory in front of over five thousand spectators alongside Team Captain Mariano Aguerre and players, Emma Tomlinson and Martin Pepa. World-renowned Argentine polo player and new face of Ralph Lauren’s Polo Fragrances, Nacho Figueras captained the opposing team, Black Watch, which featured Chris Brant, Nick Manifold and Johnny Redlich. The two teams with four players each went head-to-head during four chukkers, or play periods.
A fashionable VIP crowd –including Madonna, Kate Hudson, Marc Jacobs, Chloe Sevigny, LL Cool J, Donna Karan, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson, Peter Brant, Aby Rosen, Samantha Boardman, Alberto Mugrabi, Amy Sacco, Alek Wek, Rachel Roy, Veronica Webb, David Lauren, Byrdie Bell, Cornelia Guest, Greg Calejo, Lucy Sykes, Hilary Rhoda, Derek Blasberg, and Vikram Chatwal— was welcomed by Mark Cornell, president, Moët Hennessy USA., Cécile Bonnefond, president, Veuve Clicquot, Sabina Belli, international marketing director, Veuve Clicquot, Samantha Barnes, business director, Veuve Clicquot USA and Aisha Thompson, senior brand manager, Veuve Clicquot USA.
Veuve Clicquot invited the St. Regis New York to feature its legendary Afternoon Tea at the polo match, while Piaget served as the official timekeeper for the event and presented the winning team with its new Piaget Polo FortyFive timepiece. The event was emceed by NY1 Newsman Pat Kiernan. The national anthem was sung by New York City Firefighter Regina Lewis, and Michelle Paige Paterson, wife of New York Governor David Paterson, provided the ceremonial toss-in to start the game.
More than five thousand public spectators, there to celebrate the official opening of Governors Island season, attended as well and joined in the half-time tradition of stomping of the divots.
Later that evening, guests celebrated at an after party held at Pink Elephant Nightclub in New York City to toast the day’s event, the featured polo players and great work by Sentebale.