British Polo Day Dubai

British Polo Day Dubai

British Polo Day Dubai

British Polo Day Dubai
On the 29th March 2013, Britain’s finest institutions were in the saddle with teams from Oxford, Cambridge, Eton, Harrow, the Cavalry & Guards Club and The British Army going head to head.

The day traditionally opens with camels rather than horses on the field. The Cavalry team (sponsored by Nespresso) beat the Guards (sponsored by Gaucho), reversing last year’s score in this closely fought battle.  Her Grace the Duchess of Rutland, who handed the Hackett Camel Polo Cup to the winning palyers, said:  “The British Polo day's 5th anniversary in Dubai left the Manners family speechless with the precision and perfection in how it was orchestrated. It is the perfect way to showcase our British heritage and brands and for business and personalities to mingle in a relaxed yet formal environment. It was a great honour to present the Hackett Camel Polo Cup and we look forward to attending many more British Polo Days in the future.”

The afternoon’s Polo action continued with Eton (sponsored by Jaeger-LeCoultre) v Harrow (sponsored by GAM).  Eton started strongly with Harry Sutherland dominating early play in the first chukka, scoring the opening goal.  However, Harrow came back with Clark Betz spraying the ball around, helping to take Harrow to a 2 goal lead.  The final chukka, though, saw the Paton-Philip brothers, Rick and Jimmy, snatch a 3-3 draw with two spectacular goals.
 
The next match pitted together two of the world’s oldest educational establishments, Oxford (sponsored by Charles Russell) and Cambridge (sponsored by InterContinental Park Lane) in another thrilling encounter.  Four current students flew out especially for the match – Casra Labelle and Imran Jumabhoy from Cambridge, and George Allen and James Lindsay from Oxford.    After a nail-biting finale, Oxford narrowly beat Cambridge 4-3.  Edward Hobart, Dubai Consul General, and himself an Oxford graduate, who presented the Gaucho cup to the winners, said: “I very much enjoyed the day, the event seems to go from strength to strength”.
 
The Habtoor Polo team was comprised of patron Mohammed Al Habtoor, his son Habtoor Al Habtoor, Nacho Bello and Guillermo Cuitiño.  Mohammed Al Habtoor was named the Johnstons of Elgin Most Valuable Player while Cuitiño was the top-scorer with five goals.  Despite Army Polo players Jack Mann,  Matthew Blakiston and Robert Freeman Kerr putting up a tremendous fight, the Habtoor Polo team were victorious on their home turf.  Lt. Col. Simon Ledger, Chairman of the British Army Polo Association and who is also known as “the voice” of British Polo Day as event commentator, said: “The last match, what a fabulous occasion! High-class Polo, you will not get Polo like that. To get six-goalers and four-goalers with youngsters and guys who’ve played a long time, but perhaps haven’t played for a while because of the English winter, and to play to that standard.  Habtoor deserved to win. They’re a slick outfit, they really are, and Mohammed really deserved that MVP prize.”
 
The celebrations carried on long into the night at the XL beach Club at the Habtoor Grand Hotel.