Al Shindagah

32 | Al Shindagah | Issue 137 POLO Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup Success for Habtoor Polo at premier polo tournament ohammed Al Habtoor’s polo team, Habtoor Polo, played exceptionally in the prestigious Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup advancing all the way to the semi-finals of the tournament at Cowdray Park polo grounds – recognised worldwide as the Home of British Polo. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup is played to decide the British Open Polo Championship and is the premier polo tournament in the world. With all the international stars of the game in action in the incomparable setting of Cowdray Park’s famous ‘Lawns’, it is not surprising that the event draws in polo aficionados from all over the globe. Habtoor Polo, which consisted of Mohammed Al Habtoor (0) as patron of the team; Nicols Pieres (8), Francisco Elizalde (7) and Patrick O'Dwyer (6), defeated Habtoor Polo reached the semi-finals of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup, which is played to decide the British Polo Championship and is the premier polo tournament in the world at 22 goal (high goal) level. Joanna Andrews reports on the event which was played at Cowdray Park’s famous ‘lawns’. RH Polo 12 goals to 10 in an exciting quarter-final match. However, Habtoor Polo lost out in the semi-finals on Wednesday 19 July when they played against King Power Foxes. The tightly-fought game ended in favour of King Power Foxes 10-7. “We are delighted to have reached the semi-finals,” said Mohammed Al Habtoor. “This is a great victory for Habtoor Polo and the UAE. We are proud to represent our country in such a prestigious tournament.” Mohammed Al Habtoor is founder of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series, founded in 2009 and recognized by the World Polo Tour in 2012. The 18-goal competition is the highest ranked event in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The event is played at the Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club, a new state-of-the-art equestrian centre set on more than six million square feet of land in the heart of Dubai. M