The 10th anniversary of the Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge
By Victoria Elsbury-Legg
In 2015, Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge held at Ali Albwardy’s Desert Palm Retreat and Polo Club will celebrate its tenth anniversary year. In honour of this anniversary for the first time in the tournament history six teams (five of which include players from ruling families) will compete for the Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge Trophy. The tournament will start on Saturday 14th February, with the event’s patron, HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai presenting the winners with the trophy after the Final on Sunday 21st February.
Players include HH Sheikha Maitha Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the 2103 winner with her UAE team, playing this year alongside nine goaler Lucas Monteverde, Sandra Schneider and Santiago Stirling. Team Abu Dhabi with co-patrons Faris Al Yabhouni and Nasser Al Shamsi. New to the tournament in its anniversary year from the Jordanian Royal Family, HRH Prince Abbas bin Ali bin Nayef will be playing in team Guards beside Amr Zedan and ten goaler Pablo MacDonough; and from the Brunei Royal Family are HRH Prince Bahar Jefri Bolkiah and his cousin Princess Azemah Bolkiah, who will play as Cartier White with Joaquim Pittaluga.
A second team will also be playing as Cartier, with Guards patrons Clive Reid and Tariq Albwardy, and Argentines Martin Valent and Matias Zavaleta wearing the shirts of Cartier Red. In grey will be the home side – Desert Palm: Rashid Albwardy, Alan Meeker (the American businessman whose firm has in recent years cloned some of the best polo ponies), eight goaler Diego Cavanagh and young English player Tom Brodie (who will also be playing for Dubai in the 2015 English high goal season).
Given the team line ups, the tenth year anniversary challenge about to be played out on the pitches of Desert Palm, Dubai looks set to be full of great polo action.
Teams:
Cartier Red: Clive Reid (UK) 0; Tariq Albwardy (UAE) 1; Martin Valent (ARG) 4; Matias Zavaleta (ARG) 7.
Cartier White: HRH Princess Azemah Bolkiah (BRU) 0; HRH Prince Bahar Jefri Bolkiah (BRU) 1; TBC 4; Joaquin Pittaluga (ARG) 7.
Desert Palm (grey): Alan Meeker (USA) 0; Rashid Albwardy (UAE) 2; Diego Cavanagh (ARG) 8; Tom Brodie (UK) 2.
UAE Team (black): HH Sheikha Maitha (UAE) 0; Sandra Schneider (GER) -1; Lucas Monteverde (ARG) 9; Santiago Stirling (URU) 4.
Abu Dhabi (purple): Faris Al Yabhouni (UAE) 0; Nasser Al Shamsi (UAE) 1; Alfredo Cappella (ARG) 7; Ernesto Oscar Trotz (ARG) 4.
Guards (green): Amr Zedan (KSA) 0; HRH Prince Abbas bin Ali bin Nayef (JOR) 0; Pablo Casero (ARG) 2; Pablo Macdonough (ARG) 10.