Some 200 guests and VIPs joined HH Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and television adventurer Bear Grylls in Abu Dhabi this weekend to celebrate British Polo Day.
This event took place, for the 7th year running, at Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, the private royal polo ground of HH Sheikh Falah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
The highlight 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. The RJI Capital Ghantoot Polo Team rode to victory and collected bespoke-commissioned British silverware trophies. Also praised for his contribution, and named Jaeger-LeCoultre’s ‘Best Playing Pony’, was a horse called Curacho, ridden by Sami Al Namsi.
Following the prize-giving ceremony, guests sat down to a three-course dinner followed by a live charity auction. A total of Dh73,464 was raised, with funds to be distributed between Women and Health Alliance International (WAHA) established by Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan Al-Nahyan, the Sumba Foundation and Sentebale, a charity founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho.
Up next in the sporting-social calendar is British Polo Day Dubai which will be held on Friday (March 24) at the Al Habtoor Polo Club & Resort. Battling it out on the main field will be British teams playing against Habtoor Polo and Gulf Team.
For more information click here.
rduane@thenational.ae
