British Polo Day – Morocco

Royal Salute was among the sponsors of the highly successful British Polo Day Morocco on Saturday 25 April.

The event took place at the exclusive Jnan Amar Polo Club, set in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, for the benefit of the Eve Branson Foundation. Under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco, the event saw the likes of Sir Richard Branson, Eve Branson, British Ambassador to Morocco Clive Alderton, US Ambassador to Morocco Dwight L. Bush Sr and many more come together to raise a record US$205,000 for charity.

The British Polo Day itinerary took in some of the most spectacular corners of Marrakech, including a unique Land Rover Driving Experience through the Atlas Mountains visiting the Eve Branson Foundation’s project villages, the official launch party under the trees in the spa gardensof Royal Mansour and – on the eve of British Polo Day – a glamorous Medina Party spanning the myriad hidden courtyards, beautiful historic rooms and rooftop terrace of El Fenn.

In the second match of the day, guests then watched the Royal Salute Eve Branson Commonwealth team take on their counterparts, Ritz-Carlton Jnan Amar Rest of the World. This proved to be a technical and evenly matched game, which began with a great run by The Honorable Tristan Phillimore opening for the Royal Salute Eve Branson Commonwealth team.

However, Ritz-Carlton Jnan Amar Rest of the World showed great strength, with Rudolfo Ducos riding a fine line and scoring on two occasions, and Lucas Tariditto ensuring that the home team crept into the lead by 3 goals to 2.5 at half time. The third and fourth chukkas were equally eventful with clever play from Viscount Melville and Nacho Tejerina, in particular, but it was the home side Ritz-Carlton Jnan Amar Rest of the World that overcame, winning 5 goals to 3.5.

At the official prize-giving the Jnan Amar Challenge Cup was presented by Eve Branson to runners-up, the Royal Salute Eve Branson Commonwealth team. The triumphant Ritz-Carlton Jnan Amar Rest of the World team then took to the podium to claim British Silverware’s Hackett Eve Branson Plate, proudly presented by Sir Richard Branson, Eve Branson, Founder of Jnan Amar Polo Club Amar Abdelhadi, Mr Bikrate (the Wali of Marrakech) and Mr Bethaoui (Governor of Haoz).

The Royal Salute Most Valuable Player award, presented by Chivas Brothers Prestige Relationship Director Peter Prentice, was awarded to Nacho Tejerina of the Ritz-Carlton Jnan Amar Rest of the World team.

The evening’s Gala Dinner at Dar Soukkar brought British Polo Day Morocco 2015 to a suitably glamorous close. A superb courtyard dinner under the stars was followed by a rousing Royal Salute Quaich Experience where Peter Prentice invited all the ‘kilted men of Scotland’ to join him on stage and led a toast to Eve Branson.

British Polo Day Morocco Co-Founder Tom Hudson said: “What a great match with the Jnan Amar Polo Club team narrowly beating the Eve Branson Foundation team. Watching from the Harrods garden, set against the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, we couldn’t have wished for a more perfect day and, as always, a huge thank you to all our partners.”

Eve Branson, Founder of the Eve Branson Foundation, added: “The Eve Branson Foundation aims to create positive opportunities, working closely in partnership with the communities we support in the High Atlas Mountains, to bring about transformations both economically and socially. This, our second ‘British Polo Day Morocco’, hosted again by the Jnan Amar Polo Resort, saw an incredible gathering of all the friends and supporters of the Foundation and was the perfect showcase and occasion, to raise the money we need to continue the hugely important work we do.”