Simply Abu Dhabi XXII

2 0 6 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I S IMPLY SPORT B ritish Polo Day, presented by RJI Capital, returned to its birthplace in the UAE this March for the first of its 2016 events. Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai played host to some 400 guests and VIPs to celebrate the best of UAE and British traditions. On Saturday 19 March, British Polo Day Abu Dhabi took place at Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, the private royal polo ground of HH Sheikh Falah binZayedAl-Nahyan. The glamorous black-tie evening kicked off with two rather unusual takes on the traditional game of polo – with the Bentley Cavalry teambeating the EtihadBritishArmy Guards 4-1 in a game of camel polo for the Thesiger Trophy. The Hackett Rest of World Team won decisively 4-1 against the Intercontinental UAE team in a light-hearted game of Brompton bicycle polo, a sport played in the Olympics over 100 years ago. The highlight exhibition polomatch of the evening – the British Polo Day Plate –saw the home Ghantoot Polo Teamplay the visiting Royal Salute British Exiles. Abdullah Ben Desmail led the Ghantoot Polo Team to victory, assisted by teammates Felipe Llorente and Lucas Diaz, winning 6-3. The British Exiles put up a strong fight, with Jack Richardson and Jamie Morrison playing excellently together, setting teammate Stuart Wrigley up to score two of their three goals. Abdullah Ben Desmail collected the bespoke-commissioned British Silverware British Polo Day Plate presented by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Nahyan bin Muburak Al Nahyan and Ron Wahid from RJI Capital. Following the official prize-giving ceremony, guests sat down to a delicious three-course dinner, prepared by InterContinental Abu Dhabi, followed by a live charity auction raising a total of $46,000 for WomenAndHealthAlliance International (WAHA) launched byHer Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan Al-Nahyan and Ending Domestic Violence, a UK based charity under the patronage of Baroness Scotland of Asthal, dedicated to finding effective ways to end domestic violence worldwide. Guests bid fiercely for lots including a stay on ultra-exclusive Velaa Private Island, a safari of a lifetime to Kenya with the Safari Collection, a special cigar dinner at Franco’s in London and a luxurious retreat to Royal Mansour Marrakech. Simply Polo