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THe British Polo Day DUbai presented by
Welcome Note 6
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Welcome to the sixth British Polo Day Dubai, presented by Land Rover. For those who have been here before, it is good to have you back and for those who are here for the first time, you are in for a thrilling afternoon of polo and a celebration of British heritage and tradition with our hosts here in Dubai. Polo began in Persia as early as the 5th century BC. The modern game as we know it, was rediscovered in India in the 19th Century by the British Army and exported around the world. It is therefore fitting that we start proceedings off today with the Cavalry v Guards Camel Polo match. For those new to camel polo, this is an intriguing spectacle. Both Cavalry and Guards regiments of the British Army had camel divisions in the nineteenth century and we are pleased to be once again reviving the association between these fascinating animals and groups of regiments. Next we have Eton v Harrow in the Princes’ Cup. Eton and Harrow’s sporting rivalry goes back more than 200 years with the Eton v Harrow cricket fixture at Lords. Polo is no exception to the school’s sporting calendar and the score is poised at 2:2 between the two schools over the past 5 years with one draw. The Gaucho Cup features Oxford v Cambridge. These two University towns have been pitted against each other for years and this match will continue an historic sporting tradition. Finally, Great Britain v UAE: The British Exiles Team v the Habtoor Polo UAE Team is the climax of the day. Both sides will be competing for the Thesiger Trophy. The Thesiger Trophy, beautifully sculpted by George Bingham, is modelled on a photo that Sir Wilfred Thesiger took of HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan over 60 years ago. Sir Wilfred Thesiger also embodies the essence of today (having gone to Eton, Oxford and been in the British Army). He came to the UAE and made lifelong friends, being awarded the UAE Order of Independence. It is that friendship between the UK and the UAE that we celebrate with this event. As ever, we are indebted to all the sponsors for making this event possible. In particular, Habtoor Polo who have once again very generously provided the ponies and who are here this afternoon. We hope that you have a great day. The Committee of The British Polo Day
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Welcome Note 10
Dear Guests, Habtoor Polo is extremely pleased to once again partner with British Polo Day Dubai. We were glad to be part of the founding of British Polo Day in Dubai in 2009 and have enjoyed seeing the success and growth of all the events. Along with the Silver and Gold Cups that I founded, the last 5 years has seen huge growth in polo in the UAE and I’m proud that Habtoor Polo and British Polo Day have been part of that. My family and I have strong ties with Britain, as well as many British friends in the UAE, and we enjoy strengthening those ties through the British Polo Day. We welcome all partners and guests of the British Polo Day to Dubai and hope you enjoy the Emirati hospitality.
Yours Sincerely,
Mohammed Al Habtoor British Polo Day Dubai Patron
timetable 12
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Friday 28th March 12pm : Welcome 12.30pm : Camel Polo 1pm : VIP Lunch 1.30pm : Eton vs Harrow 3.30pm : Oxford vs Cambridge 4.30pm : The British Exiles vs Habtoor Polo 6pm : Prize-Giving 6.30pm : Fashion Showcase by Zaeem Jamal, Saha Courtyard 9.30pm : After Party XL Beach Club, Habtoor Grand Hotel
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Embassy note 16
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At Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, you will discover the rich equestrian heritage of Arabia. Whether you want to ride magnificent Arabian horses across the desert at sunset, learn to play polo or take your family on a tour of our stables. This is the ideal venue, come enjoy it all with us. Launched in April 2006, the Club has already become the heart of equestrian activity amongst residents in Dubai, as well as visitors to the city. This is thanks to the world-class polo, dressage, show jumping, training and livery facilities it offers.
Dubai polo & equestrian club
The Club House, designed as a distinctive Spanish ‘hacienda’, provides members and guests with a wide variety of dining, leisure, business and entertainment options, featuring state-of-the-art communication facilities. It is the perfect setting for cultivating a common bond of interest in equestrian pursuits, and enjoying a lifestyle unique to the world of horses.
Jeremy Hackett The Summer season of sporting events in Great Britain will soon be upon us with occ asions such as Ascot, Henley and Goodwood being just some of the highlights of the sporting calendar, not forg etting of course Polo where matches take place all over the country from March to September. And while some people attend for the sport a great deal of others go more for the social ambience and the excuse to dre ss up. We Brits enjoy our dress cod es so while Polo events do not require the strict dress code of say Ascot it is usual to show that you have ma de some effort. If you wish to dress more formally then a very lightweight panama weave cool wool suit in khaki or parchment worn with a white or pale blue shirt and polka dot tie will be very smart, if the tie is too much for you then just add a silk pocket square, Linen and cotton suits are widely worn and are more relaxed. Alternatively the navy blazer worn with a Pol o shirt and white jeans is a very popular style and one adopted by many of the players between matches. As far as footwear is con cerned, suede shoes, particularly chukka boots (th ough in Dubai they are probably better known as des ert boots) really look the part. In Britain at the me rest hint of the sun we go dashing for our Panama Hat s and golf umbrellas otherwise worn to protect us from a unseasonal downpour. If you are a newcomer to the sport of Polo then I recommend that you take a pai r of binoculars because wherever you decide to sit to wat ch the match you will find that inevitably it will be bein g played at the other end of the field.
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Although the ancient sport of polo began in Persia and China many centuries ago, the British reinvented the modern game in the Nineteenth Century. Sir Winston Churchill, one of the greatest proponents of the game, once famously said “a polo handicap is a passport to the world� and polo is still thriving everywhere it is played, from Argentina to New Zealand. British Polo Day carries on the tradition of the British playing polo against friends in a host of different countries around the world.
www.britishpoloday.com
Rules of polo 28
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The green player has the line, and at fair speed the white player would be crossing the line without sufficient safety margin, resulting in a penalty against white.
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When travelling in the same direction the white player may draw level with green and then force him across the line and take possession of the ball without committing a dangerous foul.
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Two players riding for a ball from opposite directions in the open must both give way to the left and take the ball on their right or offside.
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Even at a far lesser angle the white player would still be crossing the line if he continues in that direction, and committing a dangerous foul.
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The white player may move in parallel with the line and play a shot providing he can do so without interfering with the green’s mount or causing him to check back. If white would cross the line to the dotted position it would be a foul.
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When two players are approaching a ball in the open from different directions, the player (white), with the line of the ball on his offside, right hand side, has right of way.
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The Hackett Trophy Cavalry & Guards Camel Polo
Trophies & prizes
The Princes Cup Eton vs Harrow Camel Polo The Brompton Cycle Polo Exhibition Match Sponsored by Brompton The Gaucho Cup Oxford vs Cambridge The Land Rover Thesiger Trophy The British Exiles vs Habtoor Polo Team Best Dressed Gentleman Sponsored by Hackett Best Dressed Lady Sponsored By Zaeem Jamal
Presented by Jeremy Hackett Presented by Nicholas Soames MP Presented by Mr Ghazi Sebil Al Madani, Sport Tourism Manager, Dubai Sports Council Presented By Edward Hobart, The Dubai Consul General Presented By Dominic Jermey, British Ambassador to the UAE Presented By Jeremy Hackett Presented By Zaeem Jamal
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The British Exiles
Habtoor Polo Team
Hackett
Habtoor
1. Jacqui Hooper
(0)
1. HH Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin
Rashid Rashid Al Maktoum
(0)
2. Rick Paton Philip
(2)
2. Mohammed Khalaf Al Habtoor
(0)
3. Jamie Morrison
(3)
3. PRO (TBC)
Bk. George Meyrick
(6)
Bk. PRO (TBC)
TOTAL 11
TOTAL TBC
Oxford
Cambridge
Oxford Group Holdings
Jaeger-LeCoultre
1. Tom Hudson
(-2)
1. Raj Madha
(-1)
2. Stuart Wrigley
(0)
2. Casra Labelle
(0)
3. John Harris
(2)
3. Jeremy Pemberton
(0)
Bk. George Allen
(0)
Bk. Sam Browne
(1)
TOTAL 0
T E A M S & p l ay e r s
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TOTAL 0
Exhibiting Artist - Michael f Rumsby 38
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Michael F Rumsby is rapidly garnering a reputation as an exciting emerging force in the British art world. Born and raised in rural Suffolk, in the UK, Michael forged his distinct relationship with colour at a very young age. That relationship has since manifested itself in works that bring a unique, dynamic and dramatic narrative to the canvas. Now based in France, Michael’s work has taken on a vibrant and fluid hue that interprets the rich and intoxicating landscape of the region. He travels extensively the world over in search of inspiration from the rich diversity of the planet remaining deeply influenced by the earth, the sun and the life that bridges the two. Having previously combined his career as an artist with his role as a global business Director of a major international conglomerate, Michael has, since 2010 focussed entirely on his painting and will be holding his first major solo exhibition in London in 2014. Michael is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Trustee of the Charlotte Miller Art Project charity. (Cmap.org.uk/) His work currently hangs in private collections in Europe, the United States, Asia and Australasia. www.michaelfrumsby.com Facebook: michael f rumsby
www.Taylor-Morris.com info@taylor-morris.com
TEAMS - The British Exiles 412
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For five years a British Army team has played against the Habtoor Polo team, but this year, the British Exiles draws on the best British players from the various British institutions that are represented at British Polo Day to take on this impressive UAE team. The British Exiles Team is comprised of some of Britain’s top young players and a wide range of other polo enthusiasts, who play predominantly outside Britain at British Polo Days around the world – hence the “Exiles”. Jacqueline Hooper has been capped seven times in five different countries and she will be ably supported in the 1 position by two stalwarts of the game Rick Paton-Philip and Jamie Morrison (who is also one of Britain’s best arena polo players). 6-goaler George Meyrick, last season’s Hackett BPD Player of the Year and one of Britain’s brightest rising talents, completes this formidable team. For 5 years the British Army team were not able to beat the Habtoor Polo Team, but hopefully this year the British Exiles team will be victorious!
1. Jacqui Hooper
(0)
2. Rick Paton Philip
(2)
3. Jamie Morrison
(3)
Bk. George Meyrick
(6)
TOTAL
11
TEAMS - Habtoor polo team 44 1
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The Habtoor family are one of the Middle East’s great polo patrons. The Al Habtoor brothers have played around the world as well as sponsoring the Al Habtoor Royal Windsor Cup. They also participated at numerous exhibition charity matches and played in Spain & St Tropez as well as snow polo. In 2010, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Mohammed Al Habtoor launched the Dubai Polo Gold Cup which is one of the most important and prestigious polo tournaments in the region. In 2011, the Silver Cup was added to the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series. In 2012, Mohammed Al Habtoor led the Habtoor Polo Team to victory winning the Dubai Polo Gold Cup in a thrilling final and the event goes from strength to strength.
HABTOOR
1. HH Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed
bin Rashid Al Maktoum 2. Mohammed Khalaf Al Habtoor
(0) (0)
3. PRO
(TBC)
Bk. PRO
(TBC)
TOTAL
TBC
Tee and coffee.
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Under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco Under the Auspices of The Royal Moroccan Polo Federation
British Polo Day Morocco Saturday 19 th April 2014
For more infor mation, please email info@britishpoloday.com
Join the british polo day around the world As British Cavalry Officers travelled the four corners of the earth, they learnt to play and love polo, spreading the game from Argentina to Australia. Polo is thriving everywhere it is played. British Polo Day celebrates the heritage of the game in each country, reviving some of the old rivalries whilst bridging cultures in a quintessentially British Day. www.britishpoloday.com British Polo Day Morocco, 19th April 2014 British Polo Day USA, 31st May 2014 British Polo Day United Kingdom, 28th June 2014 British Polo Day Russia, 26th July 2014 British Polo Day China, 13th September 2014 British Polo Day Australia, 26th October 2014 British Polo Day Mexico, 22nd November 2014 British Polo Day India, 12th, 13th & 14th December 2014 British Polo Day Abu Dhabi, March 2015 British Polo Day Dubai, March 2015 Brazil, South Africa and South Korea to be added in 2015/16 If you would like to attend a British Polo Day, please email: britishpoloday@abercrombiekent.co.uk
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TEAMS - Oxford Polo 52 1
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The Oxford Polo team is comprised of past students of this ancient University Town. George Allen is a previous Treasurer and Playing Member of the Oxford University Polo Club, which was founded in 1874, three years after the introduction of polo to Britain, by undergraduates from Christ Church and Brasenose Colleges, led by Mr. Walter Long (later Viscount Long of Wraxall and First Lord of the Admiralty). The first match was held on the 1st of July 1877, and was contested by its two founder Colleges amid considerable pomp and ceremony. Stuart Wrigley began to play polo after watching the first British Polo Day Dubai in 2009, and has since gone on to become one of the most capped players. Tom Hudson, Co-Founder of British Polo Day, studied postgraduate law at the Oxford Institute of Legal Practice and all three will be ably backed up by John Harris, who represented the Oxford Polo Team at British Polo Day India.
1. Tom Hudson
(-2)
2. Stuart Wrigley
(0)
3. John Harris
(2)
Bk. George Allen
(0)
TOTAL
0
TEAMS - Cambridge Polo 54 1
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The Cambridge Polo Team is comprised of many stalwarts of the Cambridge Polo scene. The team is captained by Raj Madha who played in the first British Polo Day Dubai. After picking up a copy of Kipling’s “Maltese Cat”, Raj was already a fan of the game, albeit one with neither a horse nor a nearby ground. Undaunted, Raj joined some kindred spirits who were setting up the first Cambridge-based Polo team in 1987, taking part in the pony club championships. Raj played for Cambridge University Polo Club for four years. Since then, his playing career has spanned Cambridge, England and Dubai, as well as tours of Argentina, and Nigeria. Raj is joined by Jeremy Pemberton, a keen supporter of the Cambridge University Polo Club, and Mike Harrisson and Casra Labelle who are both Dubai residents. Casra played for Harvard Polo team before joining Cambridge as a post-graduate.
CAMBRIDGE
1. Raj Madha
(-1)
2. Casra Labelle
(0)
3. Jeremy Pemberton
(0)
Bk. Sam Browne
(1)
TOTAL
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TEAMS - Harrow Polo Team 58 1
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Eton and Harrow’s sporting rivalry stretches back to the nineteenth century. The cricket fixture at Lords being perhaps the most famous, with Lord Byron an early competitor, but the rivalry has stretched through football and now, for the first time - camel polo. Both schools boast a fine polo heritage. The most well known Eton players are its polo playing princes, William and Harry. Eton also has produced some other fine polo players recently, perhaps typified by Luke Tomlinson, an 8-goal player and captain of the England Polo Team. However the history of Eton polo stretches a long way back with the first match played by Old Etonians outside of England being held over 100 years ago, when an OE team played in the United States. Harrow also boasts some other famous polo players: Jack Kidd in the modern era, a 4 goal player, as well as Jack Richardson and Richard Le Poer, and, perhaps most famous of all, Sir Winston Churchill.
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VS
THe Brompton cycle polo exhibition match 60 1
The Brompton Cycle Polo Exhibition Match
This year at the British Polo Day Dubai we are pleased to showcase Cycle Polo in partnership with Brompton bicycles. All Bromptons are designed and built in their factory in West London, England. Brompton is one of only two major frame manufacturers still based in the UK, and have been in full production since 1988. The company remains in private hands and is now led by Will Butler-Adams, though the Brompton’s inventor, Andrew Ritchie, continues to act as Technical Director. Today, Bromptons are sold in 42 export markets. Cycle Polo was invented in County Wicklow, Ireland, in 1891 by retired cyclist, Richard J. Mecredy. That same year the first cycle polo match was played between The Scalp and the Ohne Hast C.C.. Towards the end of the 19th century the game reached Great Britain, France, and the United States where the American Star Bicycle was a popular mount. The first international match was played between Ireland and England in 1901. Cycle polo was a demonstration sport at the 1908 London Olympics with Ireland winning the gold, beating Germany. The sport reached its peak of popularity in Great Britain during the 1930s with the introduction of the regional leagues. Cycle polo also flourished in France during this period with the establishment of the French league. Internationals between France and Great Britain were held regularly. However the Second World War marked the beginning of the demise of cycle polo in Britain. The sport managed to hang on in France though, with league championships held regularly till today. The 1980s saw the rise of two new powers in cycle polo, India and USA. The Cycle Polo Association of India was officially created in 1966 and the Bicycle Polo Association of America was created in 1994. International cycle polo matches staged a comeback in the 1990s with the first world championship organized in 1996 in the USA. Today there is organized cycle polo being played in Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland and USA. Cycle polo was officially recognized by the International Cycling Union in 2001.
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TEAMS - Cavalry & Guards Camel polo 64 1
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The Cavalry & Guards Club is a gentleman’s club in Piccadilly, London. It is open to officers who had served in one of the Cavalry or Guards regiments of the British Army. The present club was formed by the merger of the Cavalry Club and the Guards’ Club in 1976. Begun by Captain Weatherall, 20th Hussars, in 1907 this prestigious club has been occupied by The British Army for over 100 years and has strong links to the ancient sport of Polo. Man has ridden camels almost as long as it has ridden horses, so it was only natural that after horse polo was developed camel polo followed. Today we welcome teams from The Cavalry & Guards regiments of The British Army who had camel units in Africa and Asia during the nineteenth century. Camel polo was pioneered at British Polo Day Dubai in 2010 and was picked up by CNN and broadcast globally. Its success has continued and it is now a staple in the UAE, and we are delighted to continue this tradition once again this year.
CAVALRY
CAVALRY
GUARDS
GUARDS
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An architectural gem in the heart of Leicestershire, Belvoir Castle is one of the country’s most atmospheric buildings, making it the ideal venue for a broad range of events and activities. Belvoir Castle offers guests a prestigious location for a wide array of celebrations, especially private paties. Gothic architecture and regency features frame the Castle’s expansive entertaining spaces and large parties are offered the grandeur of the State Dining Room with its open fires and ornate dÊcor. Smaller parties can choose the more intimate Shoot Room which has the benefit of an adjoining sitting room for guests to retire to and enjoy their own private drinks cabinet. The castle and park are also the perfect location for corporate away days including board meetings, product launches, clay days and simulated game shooting. With a wealth of rooms to choose from within the castle itself and over 1500 acres of parkland, the opportunities are endless. At Belvoir Castle, everything is bespoke and tailored to the needs of their client, ensuring a successful event. The dedication of the team and the sheer unrivalled beauty of the castle and grounds make it one of the most iconic destinations in the country. For more information about creating a special occasion please contact Helen Himmons Tel: 01476 871031 hhimmons@belvoircastle.com
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Polo is perhaps the oldest game in the world – having been played over 2500 years ago - and is truly international. The name polo is said to have been derived from the Tibetan word “pulu”, meaning ball.
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n 600 BC the first recorded game of polo took place between the Turkomans and Persians. The Turkomans won. Polo began as a training game for cavalry units, usually the King’s Guard or other elite troops. To the warlike tribesmen, who played it with as many as 100 to a side, it was a miniature battle. Persian literature and art give us the richest accounts of polo in antiquity. Ferdowsi, the famed poet-historian, gives a number of accounts of royal polo tournaments in his 9th century epic, Shahnameh (the Epic of Kings). In the earliest account, Ferdowsi romanticises an international match between Turanian force and the followers of Siyâvash, a legendary prince from the earliest centuries of the Empire. The game spread into North India. In fact Sultan Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the first Muslim Emperor of North India, actually died accidentally in 1210 playing polo.
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From Persia, in medieval times polo spread after the Muslim conquests to the Ayyubid and Mameluke dynasties of Egypt and the Levant, whose elites favored it above all other sports. Notable sultans such as Saladin and Baybars were known to play it and encourage it in their court. Polo sticks were features on the Mameluke precursor to modern day playing cards. Polo was passed from Persia to other parts of Asia including the Indian subcontinent and China, where it was very popular during the Tang Dynasty and frequently depicted in paintings and statues. The Moguls were largely responsible for taking the game from Persia to the east and by the 16th century the Emperor Babur had established it in India. Polo was revived in Japan by the 8th Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune (1684-1751) and was played until early 20th century. It was the favourite sport of the last Shogun who surrendered power to the Emperor in 1868.
Sir Winston Churchill Old Harrovian
The Prince of Wales in Jodhpur 1922
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The modern game of polo, though formalised and popularised by the British, is derived from Manipur (now a state in India) when British tea planters discovered the game in Manipur (Munipoor) on the Burmese border with India and eåstablished the first polo club in the world at Silchar, west of Manipur in 1862. In 1869, Edward “Chicken” Hartopp, 10th Hussars, read an account of the game in The Field, while stationed at Aldershot, and, with brother officers, organised the first game known then as “hockey on horseback”- on a hastily-rolled Hounslow Heath against The 9th Lancers. The 1st Life Guards and the Royal Horse Guards were quick to follow suit on grounds at Hounslow and in Richmond Park; and then on a small ground near Earl’s Court known as Lillie Bridge. The first polo club in England was Monmouthshire, founded by Capt. Francis “Tip” Herbert, 7th Lancers, at his brother’s seat, Clytha Park, near Abergavenny in 1872.
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In 1875, the first official match in Argentina took place on 3rd September, where the game took place between English and Irish engineers and ranchers.
Prince Philip playing polo
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Mohammed Habtoor Player - Habtoor Mohammed Al Habtoor is Vice Chairman and CEO of the Al Habtoor Group LLC. He began playing polo in 1999 and, with his brother Rashid, the family are one of the Middle East’s great polo patrons. In 2010, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Mohammed Al Habtoor launched the Dubai Gold Cup Series which is one of the most important and prestigious polo tournaments in the region. Mohammed and his brother Rashid have each played three times at The British Polo Day Dubai.
Tom Urquhart B r i t i s h P o l o D ay P e r s o n a l i t i e s
Commentator Tom Urquhart is a television and radio presenter who formerly worked for a daily broadsheet newspaper in London. He is on air three times a week as presenter on Dubai Eye 103.8’s sport show, is a prominent part of the latest Emirates Airline campaign and is co-presenter of two Dubai One shows, Ask One and World of Sports. Urquhart has worked extensively on the small screen in the last decade. He was chosen as host for City 7s Good Morning Dubai show, the first live English language breakfast show in the UAE. He has also been featured in a Discovery Channel feature on ‘Dubai, A Place in the Sun’ from the UK, and ‘Lonely Planet does Dubai’. Most recently, he garnered plaudits for his role as presenter on The Entrepreneur, a reality show based in Dubai.
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Stuart Wrigley Player - Oxford Stuart - and his Rhino’s team play every year in the Dubai Silver Cup. This is the end of his fourth full season in Dubai. He started playing in Jan 2010 – having never ridden before. He has since played levels up to 15 goals. Now he is 0 goals and patron of Dubai based team Rhinos and has played with British Polo Day in China, Dubai, Thailand, Russia, India and France. He has also played in Argentina, Spain, the UK, Korea, and Switzerland. Stuart looks forward to playing again for his alma mata here at British Polo Day Dubai 2014.
Jacqueline Hooper Player - Oxford Jacqueline Hooper was raised in a polo family in the New Forest, England. At the age of 15, she received the Mary Taylor Memorial Trophy awarded to the most promising female polo player in the UK. She represented Oxford in the Varsity matches from 1992 to 1995, During her years at Oxford Jacqueline also captained the first Ladies England Universities Polo Team. In recent years Jacqueline captained both the English Ladies team and the Australian Ladies Polo Team . Jacqueline played in the inaugural British Polo Day in Dubai and has since represented Oxford University at other British Polo Days variously in Thailand, Dubai, Singapore, India and France.
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