News

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Hurlingham Polo Association Associated With Dubai Polo Gold Cup

The Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) confirmed today that they will provide umpires for the Dubai Polo Gold Cup 2010 (Gold Cup).

This tournament is open to minimum handicapped players of 0 goal and any minus 1 handicapped players will assume a 0 goal rating for the purpose of the tournament subject to approval by the committee.

The association with the HPA further strengthens the polo bond of the two nation's proud polo history, England and the UAE respectively.

About the Hurlingham Polo Association

The HPA is the governing body of polo in the UK, Ireland and many other countries throughout the world. As such, it is responsible for the regulations and rules under which the game is played.

This includes the handicapping of any one playing in the U.K. or Ireland. The object of the HPA is to further the interests of polo generally and support by all possible means the common interests of its affiliated clubs and associations.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Habtoor Polo Enter Gold Cup

Habtoor Polo confirmed their participation in the inaugural Dubai Polo Gold Cup 2010 today. The first Dubai team to register and recent quarter finalists of the 2009 Queens Cup in England are sure to put on a great show of force on their home turf.

Known for their passion and dedication in putting polo on the calendar at home and abroad the Habtoor team will be a team to watch out for.

About Habtoor Polo

Since they met in March 2000, The Brothers Al Habtoor and Justo del Carril have been playing polo together and working to build what today can be recognized as a serious polo organisation. Del Carril had been playing professional polo since the age of 23 around the world.

Habtoor Polo consists of over 40 horses, mostly from Argentina, taken care by a head groom, also from Argentina, Luis Vignolles, and 8 grooms, Luis is a polo pony trainer, so in charge of the horses since they are made, traveling with them to Dubai, and heading the barn operations whilst in the UAE. Although the head polo barn is in Dubai Polo Club at Arabian Ranches, the team trailers the horses between the other three polo clubs of the UAE, Desert Palm Polo Club, Plantation and Ghantoot, to play the best possible polo available.

This is also achieved by hiring other professional polo players, such as Fernando Pipi Bourdieu, 6-goal player from Argentina, who played exclusively for the Habtoor Polo Team during the 2007 polo season. Pipi also plays international professional Tournament when not in Dubai, such as in Singapore, Pakistan, Spain and France.

Del Carril has also accompanied The Brothers Al Habtoor to play polo around the world, hiring high goal players such as Alejandro Piki Diaz Alberdi to play 22 goal tournament in the Melbourne Polo Club, the Cartier Polo in Dubai with Adolfo Cambiaso and Lolo Castagnola, Guards Polo Club with Peter Webb and Ryan Pemble and then on to play snow polo in Austria. Rashid has also played in St. Tropez and Paris, at the Chantilly Polo Club.

The Al Habtoor Farm in Al Khawaneej, Dubai is undergoing massive reconstruction to accommodate the polo playing need of the family, with a brand new 50 horse stable, polo field, tennis court, guest houses and a lake, and pastures to turnout the horses during the off season.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Chile's Sumaya Polo Enter Team for Dubai Polo Gold Cup

Sumaya's Ahmad Aboughazale (nephew of Oussama – Chilean team patron) has confirmed their entry into the Dubai Polo Gold Cup 2010. Sumaya, one of the leading polo teams in the world, twice runners up of The Queens Cup in 2009 and 2008, they present a potent force anywhere they play polo.

The quality of Sumaya speaks for itself and will be a welcome sight on the lawns of Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club in March 2010.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club Confirm Team for Polo Gold Cup

Ghantoot Polo Club has today confirmed its participation in the Dubai Polo Gold Cup 2010. Under the visionary chairmanship of Sheikh Falah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates is rapidly carving a distinct niche for itself on the world polo circuit, with Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club leading the way.