Simply Abu Dhabi XXVI

1 9 9 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I The winners of British Polo Day Abu Dhabi 2017 The highlight exhibition polo match of the evening – the British Polo Day Plate – saw the home team RJI Capital Ghantoot Polo Team play the visiting Royal Salute British Exiles, with both sides led onto the field of play by the first two Bentley Bentaygas in the UAE the opening ceremony. The RJI Capital Ghantoot Polo Team rode to victory. British Polo Day Abu Dhabi’s official prize giving ceremony saw the winning teams collecting the bespoke-commissioned British Silverware British Polo Day trophies presented by HH Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan bin Muburak Al Nahyan and Ron Wahid, Chairman and CEO of RJI Capital. The agile Curacho, ridden by Sami Al Namsi, was named Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Best Playing Pony byMarc de Panafieu, Brand Director for the Middle East. Following the prize giving ceremony, guests sat down to a delicious three-course dinner prepared by InterContinental Abu Dhabi was followed by a live charity auction raising a total of $20,000 for Women and Health Alliance International (WAHA) launched by HH Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan, the Sumba Foundation and Sentebale. The latter, a charity founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, helps the most vulnerable children in Lesotho and Botswana get the support they need to lead healthy and productive lives. Guests bid enthusiastically for lots including a safari of a lifetime to Kenya with the Safari Collection, a stay at the beautiful Cape View Clifton, a special dinner at Wilton and a trip to the amazing Nihiwatu on Sumba Island in Indonesia for the British Polo Day held there later this year. British Polo Day, presented by RJI Capital, returned to Dubai for its 9th event, although this was the first time that the event was held at the fabulous new St. Regis Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club. Some 450 guests and VIPs including HH Khalifa Al Maktoum, Khalaf Al Habtoor, Mohammed Al Habtoor, Ghazi Al Madani, Saeed Bin Drai, British Consul General Paul Fox, 8th Earl of ClanwilliamPaddyMeade and 4th Baron Kenilworth Randle Siddeley, enjoyed the polo despite the thoroughly British weather. The event kicked off with a Cavalry and Guards camel polo display, a sport that has its biggest annual showcase at British Polo Day. Next followed a bicycle polo demonstration, a sport played in the Olympics over 100 years ago, with players from the regiments of Cavalry and Guards competing in Bentley and St. Regis Dubai Polo Resort and Club Teams respectively for the Thesiger Trophy. Mohammed Al Habtoor, Chairman of the Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club said: “It is wonderful to see British Polo Day here at our polo resort and club. I was very happy to take part in the forming of this event back in 2009 with my Habtoor Polo organisation. I am always glad to see the British Polo Day team come back to Dubai and now I am especially honoured to welcome them to our brand new and excellent facilities.” At 3.15 pm, Stuart Wrigley captained the Oxbridge team, sponsored by Chelsea Barracks, against the Gulf team, sponsored by Vista Jet. RJI Gulf beat Chelsea Barracks with 8 ½ goals to 6. The highlight exhibition polo match of the day – the British Polo Day Plate – saw the home teamHabtoor Polo Team play the visiting Royal Salute British Exiles, with both sides led onto the field of play by the two Bentley Bentaygas in the UAE opening ceremony. The Bentley Habtoor Team rode to victory with 7 goals over Royal Salute British Exiles’ 4 1/2. British Polo Day Dubai’s official prize giving ceremony saw the winning teams collecting the bespoke-commissioned British Silverware British Polo Day trophies presented by Richard Oakes from Chelsea Barracks, James Houghton of British Silverware, and Ghazi Al Madani. The agile Don Juan, ridden by Guillermo Cuitino, was named Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Best Playing Pony byMarc de Panafieu, Brand Director for the Middle East. This completed the British Polo Day UAE events, and everyone is eagerly awaiting the 10th British Polo Day Dubai in 2018.