The 20th Anniversary of the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club
By Victoria Elsbury-Legg
This week a very special date will be marked at the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, which was founded by the late Sheikh Zaye bin Sultan Al Nahyan and is today run by his son, H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. On December 4th 2014 the Club will celebrate its 20th Anniversary on a day which is of great significance to the entire country as it is also UAE’s 43rd National Day of Celebrations.
Earlier in the week at a Press conference held at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, a ceremony was held in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Falah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Club and announcements were made about the upcoming tournament to be held from 4th – 12th December. Also present were: H.E. Saeed Bin Houfan Al Mansouri, Vice-Chairman, Mr. Ahmed Al Nuaimi, Managing Director and Nesrine Bengra Head of Marketing & PR for the Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, alongside a number of athletes, officials and representatives of the participating teams as well as sponsors.
During the conference, the draw for the tournament took place, teams and players taking part include: Ghantoot Polo Team: Ali Al-Marri, Segndo Mejions, Ramiro Zavaleta and Rodolfo Dox; Bin Drai Team, which is captained by Saeed bin Drai also has players Spjendo Kavanash, Nichols and Thomas Petrashi Ariyarta; Mahra/Habtoor Polo Team, with Habtour Al Habtoor, Santiago Gomez Ramiro, Khalaf Al Habtoor and Mario Jomes, and Dr. A / Reno Team, with Abdul Rahman, Stewart Wrigley, Santiago Sernads and Maximiliano Malakaza .
In recent weeks, the Club (which stretches over 300 hectares and not only includes stunning international level pitches, but also top sporting facilities and apartments) has hosted the Sentebale Polo Cup presented by Royal Salute World Polo in in which HRH Prince Harry played alongside Nacho Figueras. Upcoming eventsLive to be held at the Club include: His Highness the President of the UAE Polo Cup (4th – 16th January 2015), H.H. UAE President’s Show Jumping (18th – 21st February), British Polo Day (March 27th) and the Emirates Open Polo Championships (25th March – 3rd April), alongside other charitable eventsLive.