For the first ever time, the England Polo Team competed in the UAE, taking on the Habtoor UAE Polo Team.
Captained by Charlie Cadogan, four of the best young English polo players took on a team selected and captained by leading UAE polo patron Mohammed Al Habtoor.
This international match was played at a fourteen goal handicap level and under the Hurlingham Polo Association rules in front of guests at The Regis Brunch, on the terrace of the St Regis Resort overlooking the polo field and a large crowd of picnickers.
It was a fast-paced match, with Mohammed Al Habtoor opening up the scoreboard after only a minute of play, before his team-mate Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario scored as the first chukker ended 2-0 in favor of the Argentex Habtoor UAE Polo team.
The English boys opened up their scores in the second chukker with a goal off the stick of Will Emerson for the Boadicea the Victorious England Polo Team. With only second left on the clock Santiago Gomez Romero scored for the Habtoor UAE team.
The second half of the match saw a heated 3rd chukker, with both teams scoring twice, while in the final chukker Mohammed Al Habtoor and Santiago G Romero each scored and Tom Brodie executed a beautiful runaway goal, taking the ball from midfield.
The match ended with a victory to the Argentex Habtoor UAE Polo Team of 7 to 4.
The trophy ceremony was led by the Chairman of Chestertons, Salah Mussa, David Crisp, CEO and owner of Boadicea the Victorious, Harry Adams, managing director of Argentex and the Deputy CEO of Hurlingham Polo Association, Oliver Hughes presenting an original miniature version of one of polo’s most prestigious trophies – The Coronation Cup.
It is the only time that this miniature Trophy has been awarded since the first ever Coronation Cup that took place in 1911 to celebrate the coronation of King George V.
Oliver Hughes, deputy CEO of Hurlingham Polo association said: “It is a truly proud moment to be able to bring an England Polo Team here to Dubai for the first time. The UAE is now considered to be one of the world’s fastest growing polo communities and we certainly see Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club to be one of the finest polo venues in the world”
Mohammed Al Habtoor, committee chairman and CEO of Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club said: “It was an absolute pleasure to host this inaugural international match here at our club and I look forward to many more.
“As always we greatly appreciate the support from the HPA, Chestertons, Boadicea the Victorious and of course our team sponsors Argentex also a big thank you to Sportgate International for the great collaboration in making this day possible.”