British Polo Day

FLYING THE FLAG

As crowds flock to the UK in this year of celebration, British Polo Days communicate the nation’s values of heritage and fair play to audiences abroad

British Polo Day China was held in Beijing in 2011 at the Sunny Times Polo Club and attracted UK and local sponsors both Patriotism is fashionable these days, especially for the new generation who see their future in the global marketplace. The story of British Polo Day is an inspiring call to action by two friends keen to ensure that Britain projects its values and identity in an increasingly crowded international space.

Edward Olver and Tom Hudson have created British Polo Day, an ambitious, wide-reaching project founded on a genuine sense of ‘Britishness’. In this Jubilee and Olympic year, when everyone is talking about Great Britain, they have rolled out British Polo Days around the world with the hopes of opening doors and building a network of diplomatic and commercial opportunities.

Olver and Hudson are passionate about the modern relevance of polo, celebrating the history of the game through the traditions and heritage of cavalry officers who originally helped to spread the sport in the 19th century. Polo is now part of a global luxury lifestyle and with British Polo Days, Olver and Hudson hope to facilitate the movement of blue-chip British brands into a natural and effective association with key individuals in social and business circles in emerging markets around the world. Olver explained: ‘British Polo Days are like global lily pads, stepping stones into other markets. A gala party on the Great Wall of China after the tournament, for example, is much more memorable than a PowerPoint presentation.’

The project initially began in Dubai in 2009, with the UK launch happening in July 2011. That event was held at Watership Down estate, the home and private polo ground of Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber, with players and an audience that included HRH Prince Harry of Wales and HRH Prince Rashid of Jordan. Since

then, British Polo Day has taken place in China, Singapore, India, Thailand, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The programme continues, with St Tropez and Germany in summer 2012, and further British Polo Days in Russia, South Africa and Barbados are planned for the future.

After an expatriate upbringing, going to boarding school and university in the UK, Olver spent two years in the City learning the ropes at Deutsche Bank. He then joined the British Army and was in the Life Guards for five years,

The games are always thrilling contests of good, clean, competitive fun polo

leaving as Adjutant of the Household Cavalry. It was while in the army that Olver conceived and eventually deployed the Household Cavalry Musical Ride to Abu Dhabi in 2009, a project that involved the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage.

HH Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, while taking the Musical Ride to Abu Dhabi, described it as ‘an eloquent manifestation of the strong ties between the UK and the UAE, both of which share deeply rooted equestrian traditions and centuries-old passion for horses… Indeed this noble gesture will go a long way to consolidating the eternal bonds of friendship linking our two sisterly nations’.

Olver’s own faith in the event went far beyond a shared affection for the horse, and his experiece with the project inspired him to rethink the ability of British heritage to improve trade relations between the UK and UAE.

He recognised that the invitation to take one of the UK’s most iconic and traditional regiments to Abu Dhabi was a demonstration of a deep-rooted relationship between the two countries, and an opportunity to bridge the gap between the two cultures. Following the success of this venture, he then sought to take the idea to other countries. Together with Tom Hudson, the co-founder of British Polo Day, they conceived the plan of action. Hudson grew up in Windsor and went to Eton College before joining the British Army in his gap year. It was here that he learned to ride and play polo for the first time. After graduating from Bristol University and studying law in Oxford he moved to the UAE with law firm Linklaters. It was in Dubai that he rekindled his love of polo and it was there that, in 2009, he was asked by Eton College to create an alumni network in the Middle East and an annual event where everyone could reunite – polo seemed the perfect backdrop for such an occasion, given the school’s link with the sport. Hudson turned to Eton’s natural rivals, Harrow, who also had many alumni in the region, including HRH Prince Rashid of

British Polo Day has grown from a two-man team working from a London bedroom to a global business with offices in London and Dubai

Jordan, Captain of the Royal Jordanian Polo Team. The stage was set.

‘As well as the expats living in the Middle East who I knew would want to come to the event,’ recalls Hudson, ‘British businesses were also keen to be involved, as well as Emiratis, many of whom either attended Sandhurst or at least have property in Knightsbridge.’

Hudson’s planning of this polo event coincided with Olver bringing the Household Cavalry Musical Ride out to the Middle East. The two met a few months later at Hyde Park Barracks, compared their experiences, and together founded British Polo Day.

The first British Polo Day was held in Dubai in 2009 and over the past three years it has become one of the most prestigious sporting and social events in the Middle East, attracting a high-profile, eclectic mix of guests. Lord Waldegrave, Provost of Eton said, ‘It is great that that there is now an occasion where people from some of our great schools and universities can meet up.’

Lord Astor of Hever further commented, ‘This is a unique initiative and rare celebration of the best of British’.

Each event features British polo players from some of Britain’s leading institutions competing against the teams from the host country. Since the end of 2011, the British side has fielded

Left The British Army team in Abu Dhabi, (from left to right), Major Matthew Eyre-Brook, Gaston Devrient, Doug White and Major Rupert Lewis, in April 2012. Above Elephant polo was just one of many highlights at British Polo Day India, in Jodhpur in 2011

Far left Saeed Bin Drai with Prince Harry at the UK launch of British Polo Day. Above The British Exiles team sitting on the Great Wall of China. Left Victory went to the British Army team in Thailand in February this year

teams from Eton, Harrow, Oxford, Cambridge and players from the British Army around the world, who compete head-to-head with local and international teams. The aim of a British Polo Day is to continue the tradition of playing high-quality polo against friends in host countries, while also acting as a platform for businesses in emerging markets.

After three years in the Middle East, the next British Polo Day global destination was China. This was in partnership with the Chinese Equestrian Association and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports. British Polo Day China showcased the traditions of the sport of polo, and saw the likes of Luis Lalor and Marcos Heguy humbled by young British players, as thousands of enthusiastic Chinese supporters cheered the team on in the shadow of the Great Wall.

The British Ambassador to China, Sebastian Wood said, ‘It was a great success, featuring some spectacular Mongolian horsemanship, all on a perfect, sunny autumn day.’ Sir David Brewer, chairman of the China-Britain Business Council added, ‘What better way to promote a great British sporting tradition and British luxury brands.’

The Singapore Polo Club, founded by Army officers in 1886, was the second Asian venue to host British Polo Day, welcoming the British Army Team in celebration of the club’s 125th year. The Sultan of Johor was guest of honour, and started an exciting title match after a spirited Eton vs Harrow fixture. The players and sponsors also enjoyed breakfast at Eden Hall (the High Commissioner’s residence) by the kind permission of the High Commissioner, who said it was a ‘wonderful occasion to honour the enduring links between the UK and Singapore.’

Certain events will forever remain in the hearts and minds of all those involved. British Polo Day India was one such event. HH The Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Jodhpur, himself having attended Eton and Oxford, could not have been a more perfect host. From the fashion show on the ramparts of the Mehrangarh Fort and the glittering parties in the Umaid Bahwan Palace, to the elephant polo, lunar eclipse and even the birth of the Maharaja’s first granddaughter during the event, this was indeed a magical and unforgettable weekend of sport, splendour and surprise.

Thailand was equally exotic with Harald Link and Nunthinee Tanner providing the horses at the Thai Polo and Equestrian Club. A few of the rustier amateur alumni players benefited from the eagle eye of Rege Ludwig, and many had already booked their return flights for further training with the legendary polo instructor and coach. The British Ambassador to Thailand, Asif Ahmad, added that, ‘British Polo Day captures the essence of the qualities of Great Britain’.

In Dubai, British Polo Day is now the showcase event at the Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club, which is under the patronage of Habtoor Polo. This event has truly become one of the most exciting social rituals celebrating British heritage in the Middle East, attracting premier English brands as sponsors. An interesting addition has been camel polo where this year members of the Cavalry & Guards Club took each other on in an amusing spectacle.

British Polo Day Abu Dhabi at Abu Dhabi’s Royal Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club has established a new model, with a spectacular floodlit match and black tie event that supports HRH The Prince of Wales’s Pakistan Recovery Fund. HH Sheikh Falah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, chairman of Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, generously extended an invitation to the British Polo Day team to host the event there. HH Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, himself a distinguished showjumper, awarded the Thesiger Trophy to the winning team, Ghantoot.

Attracting a selection of prestigious sponsors including Land Rover, Coutts and Hackett, British Polo Day has enjoyed international media coverage including the Financial Times, Harper’s Bazaar and

Above Camel polo was an entertaining addition to British Polo Day in Dubai, April 2012 China Central Television, along with creating strong interest on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook.

The British Polo Day team, while small, is certainly passionate about what they do, and this is evident in the thought-out execution of each event and the media coverage and film treatment that each receives. The business has developed from a two-man team working from a bedroom in London to a global business with offices in London and Dubai.

Moreover, a British Polo Day encapsulates the history, heritage and tradition of the sport of polo. It creates an opportunity for people around the world to celebrate the ‘Best of British’ in an engaging and positive way.

As Sir Winston Churchill famously said (himself an Old Harrovian and British Army officer), ‘A polo handicap is a passport to the world’, and British Polo Days have continued that tradition for over 50 British players who have played at the British Polo Days, including: Will Emerson (Eton), Ben Vestey (Eton and the Army), Raj Madha (Eton and Cambridge), HRH Prince Harry (Eton and the Army), and HRH Prince Rashid of Jordan (Harrow, Cambridge and the Army).

Lt Col Simon Ledger, chief commentator at the British Polo Days and chairman of the Army Polo Association added that, ‘British Polo Days enable polo to be played as it was always intended to be played and how it should be played. These are groups of friends, such as the Army, who travel to far-flung destinations in the name of polo and end up making new friends in the host countries. By no means amateur players, they do encapsulate the long-lost “spirit of the amateur” and the games are always thrilling contests of good, clean, competitive fun polo.

‘What is more, the British Polo Day team, by partnering with some of the top polo patrons and sponsors around the world have enabled, for once, cost not to be a factor in participation. Now that really is a good development for polo!’

A gala party on the Great Wall of China after the tournament, for example, is much more memorable than a PowerPoint presentation