Thousands
turn out for British Polo Day Dubai, sponsored by Hackett
British Polo Day, sponsored by Hackett, returned on Friday 30th March
2012 with a thrilling day of polo at the Dubai Polo & Equestrian
Club for its fourth successful year. The prestigious event, which
celebrates British heritage, tradition and friendship with the United
Arab Emirates, saw polo players from Britain’s finest institutions
competing against each other with teams from Oxford, Cambridge, Eton,
Harrow, the Cavalry & Guards and The British Army going head to
head.
VIP
Guests were welcomed at the Clubhouse with a Champagne Reception by
Taittinger and an exciting and highly entertaining game of Camel Polo
between representatives of the Cavalry and Guards regiments of the
British Army, before the main spectacle of the day between the
British Army and Habtoor Polo. In a hard fought first game, Habtoor
Polo were victorious winning the Thales Thesiger Trophy 6-4.
While
guests enjoyed lunch and refreshing Gaucho cocktails, next to take to
the field were long-time school rivals Eton, sponsored by Coutts, and
Harrow, sponsored by Million Plus, in a fast paced highly competitive
game with Harrow eventually winning 8-4 to claim the Coutts Princes’
Cup.
The
final game of the day saw Oxford, sponsored by CAVA, beat Cambridge,
sponsored by InterContinental Park Lane, 6-1 to take home the Gaucho
Cup. Oxford player Jacqui Hooper was awarded the Best Player Prize
by Jeremy Hackett, Chairman and Founder of Hackett London and title
sponsor of the event.
The
British Polo Day has become one of the Middle East’s most
prestigious sporting and social eventsLive: an extravaganza of sport,
society and style, with an eclectic mix of high profile guests
including British aristocracy, ambassadors, royal families and
celebrities.
“The
event is phenomenal, really well-run. British Polo Day is a really
good show and the horses are quality, that’s the most impressive
thing,”
said Harrow Captain Will Seth-Smith.
A
charity auction in aid of HRH Prince Charles’ Pakistan Recovery
Fund rounded off the event raising over $15,000 USD, followed by
British Polo Day Fashion Show by Rivaage and a glamorous after-party
with guests dancing away under the stars until the early hours.
Organised
by old friends, Tom Hudson and Ed Olver, the event is partnered with
some of the most esteemed British brands to create a ‘best of
British’ day, including Hackett, Harry’s of London, The Hideaways
Club, Intercontinental Park Lane, Coutts, Ettinger, Walpole and
Roxtons.
Tom
Hudson, Co-Founder British Polo Day, said, “We’re
pleased to have again transported a slice of Britain to Dubai for
this weekend – polo, ponies and picnics are quintessentially British,
and this year the event has been even bigger and better”.