News 
The Swiss watchmaker Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre is proud to announce its sponsorship of British Polo Day Abu Dhabi and British Polo Day Dubai for the second consecutive year. The British Polo Day 2014 Series sees Britain’s best young players and polo enthusiasts flying in to the UAE. On Friday 28 March 2014, the spectacular British Polo Day Dubai returns to the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club – the birthplace of British Polo Day and the setting for its very first event in 2009.
On Saturday 22nd March 2014, the British Polo Day 2014 series, began in style at Abu Dhabi’s Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club, the private royal club of His Highness Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In attendance at British Polo Day Abu Dhabi were international polo champions Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan and Jaeger-LeCoultre polo ambassador, Clare Milford Haven (Clare Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven) who won Most Valuable Player award at the British Polo Day 2013 in Abu Dhabi. Clare has been competing under the Jaeger-LeCoultre colours for many years. She has displayed her skills in many countries including England, Spain, Italy, South Africa, Mexico, Argentina and Chile. An enthusiastic and active member of the Cowdray Park Polo Club, she is one of the increasing number of women distinguishing themselves in this fascinating and thrilling sport.
His Highness Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan al Nahyan, himself a famed show jumper, presented the Thesiger Trophy to the winning Ghantoot Polo team, which is a majestic sculpture designed by George Bingham of His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, based on pictures that Sir Wilfred Thesiger had taken more than 50 years ago.
Juan Zavaleta from Ghantoot Polo was also awarded the Holland & Holland Shot of the Day – a new prize for 2014 – and Daniel Riedo, the CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre, the Official Timekeeper of British Polo Day, presented the Best Playing Pony Prize.
In keeping with British Polo Day’s ongoing commitment to philanthropy, this year’s event was in support of Abu Dhabi charity WAHA (Women and Health Alliance) and British charity Help for Heroes. The evening’s auction included lots such as a stay in the Six Senses Zighy Bay in Oman, a stunning Isis Wing gown from the Egypt collection by Zaeem Jamal, two Virgin Atlantic Upper Class flights, a week in one of 3RD HOME’s luxury residences and a four-night stay at Royal Mansour Marrakech which raised over AED 100,000 in total for both the charities.
Jaeger-LeCoultre and the polo world
No watch can claim to be as closely linked to the world of polo as the Reverso by Jaeger-LeCoultre. It was created in 1931 at the request of British colonial army officers in India who were tired of seeing their watches damaged by their polo matches – thereby sparking the invention of the famous swivelling case that protected the glass and dial by exposing only the metal back to potential knocks. Ever since, the ties between the legendary reversible case and polo have remained deeply embedded in the identity the Reverso watch, which has constantly evolved and adapted to changing times. Today, Jaeger-LeCoultre is more inseparably bound up than ever with polo through its regular involvement in sporting partnerships around the world thanks to its internationally recognised ambassadors such as Argentinean polo player Eduardo Novillo Astrada.
April 10, 2014
