South Africa has rejoined the Federation of International Polo (FIP), after an absence of many years, and this means the polo team are once again a part of the international polo circuit.
SA is participating in the FIP World Cup, which is the polo equivalent of the FIFA World Cup of football and are sending a team to the playoffs in February 2007. This is being held in Auckland, New Zealand and South Africa will play against Australia, Singapore and Pakistan, as well as the host team, New Zealand. The winners of this playoff will then go on to the finals in Mexico in September 2007.
The team chosen to represent South Africa consists mainly of young, talented players, who are being groomed for their future polo careers; and SAPA firmly believes that the World Cup is a great opportunity for these players to obtain intern

ational experience and recognition. The team consists of Gareth Evans [Captain], Ignatius Du Plessis, Tom De Bruin and Jean Du Plessis. Buster MacKenzie, who has captained South Africa on several occasions, has been appointed as the team coach and the team manager for this tournament is Mike Mouat.

HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, presented the Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge Trophy to the National Bank of Dubai Private Office team, following their 6-5 victory over the Qatar Airways squad on Friday 30 March. Both teams were joined in the presentation photographs with their sponsors – Faranak Foroughi, head of The National Bank of Dubai’s Private Office and Mr Ali Al Rais, General Manager Commercial Operations of Qatar Airways.
This prestigious polo event was being held for the second successive year at Ali Albwardy’s Desert Palm Polo Club in Dubai in front of an audience of invited guests. Among those seated in the elegant grandstand was Monica Bellucci, the Italian filmstar who shot to international stardom in the Matrix films and who has just launched the Monica Bellucci Cartier Collection. She was joined by Bernard Fornas, President of Cartier, who later presented HRH Princess Haya, who is President of the Federation Equestre Internationale, with a memento of the day.
Polo supporters included Urs Schwarzenbach, winner of this event in 2006 and patron of the renowned Black Bears Polo Team. He had flown in to Dubai to support his son Guy who was playing for the Qatar team. Fellow polo patron, Vichai Rakriaksorn, who too was supporting his son Tot in the Qatar team, joined him in the grandstand. Another polo aficionado was Patrick Hermes, President of the Federation of International Polo (FIP). He acted as third man in both games – making the final umpiring decisions if the two mounted umpires – Robert Thame and Oliver Ellis – could not agree on a decision.
After the main presentation, Nico Petracci’s star pony received the Gibson Guitar Best Playing Pony Rug from HRH Princess Haya and Patrick Normand, managing director of Cartier Middle East. Ali Albwardy then presented a cheque for 100,000 dirams to the Princess on behalf of UNICEF, her chosen charity at this year’s event.
The day started with an under 21s game for the Desert Palm Trophy. The youngsters produced a thrilling performance and attracted plenty of vocal support from the spectators. After a close battle, in which the teams almost seemed to take turns to score, the Guards team came out on top, defeating Desert Palm 5-4. Desert Palm’s owner and patron of the high-goal Dubai polo team, Ali Albwardy looked on proudly as his son Rashid received the Desert Palm Trophy from HRH Princess Haya.
With the leading British polo club – Guards Polo Club – at the forefront in organising this event, there was a typically British feel to the day. After the matches, players and spectators mingled in the relaxed sofa area and were served traditional afternoon tea. Visitors to Desert Palm on this great day of polo, which is traditionally held on the eve of the Dubai World Cup, could also visit the Dubai International Flower Festival 2007 - Floral Fiesta - Ihtefaal Bil Azhaar which was organised by the Floral Art Group – Dubai. The stunning floral exhibits included a 24ft floral display dedicated to HRH Princess Haya.
Teams for the Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge Trophy :
National Bank of Dubai The Private Office :
Rashid Al Habtoor (1)
Nico Petracci (4)
Pippi Bordieu (6)
Tariq Albwardy (1)
Qatar Airways :
Guy Schwarzenbach (1)
Gabriel Inglesias (4)
Roddy Williams (6)
Tot Rakriaksorn (1)
Teams for the Desert Palm Trophy (under 21s) :
Guards :
Rashid Albwardy
Andreas Papoyans
Geronimo Del Carril
Matias Inglesias
Desert Palm :
Khalid Bin Drai
Tariq Al Habtoor
Mohammed Bin Drai
Rashid Bin Drai

Just when we thought we had seen it all, Dubai once again pulled something ritzy and glitzy out of the desert. This year’s highly celebrated Horsepower Challenge was in aid of the Dubai Autism Centre - proudly sponsored by Le Meridien Mina Seyahi.
In stark contrast to the lives of the children throughout the UAE who suffer with the autism condition, a monster fundraising event was put together and designed to highlight the undisputed lifestyle and privileges that the majority of UAE ex-pats enjoy.
The concept of the Horsepower Challenge revolved around four polo teams made up of first season beginners from the Dubai Polo Academy. Having secured four corporate sponsors – TNT, Penfolds, Aigner & Audi Middle East, each team battled it out throughout the day beginning with a polo match in the early hours of the morning, followed by a race around Dubai in the latest Audi TT’s. The sophisticated Sateltite navigation system guided all of the vehicles to the Dubai Marina where they set sail on a luxury super yacht courtesy of Blue Water Charters, around the exclusive Palm Island. Once at their destination all teams had to negotiate a slalom course on a jet ski with their two other team members in tow on an inflatable hotdog!
During the mid day heat, all competitors where treated to a sumptuous lunch courtesy of the title sponsors Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Hotel on a traditional Dhow moored in the center of their exclusive beach resort. As the afternoon became cooler it was a dash back in the Audis’ to the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club to the thousands of waiting supporters and spectators to continue the Challenge.
Two more chukkas of polo led nicely into the first ever camel polo in the UAE. With neither steering nor brakes each team brought tears of laughter to the watching crowd as the camels either bolted off or lay down mid chukka. The day’s events concluded with a fantastic display of skill from the players in the finale Le Meridian Mina Seyahi Polo Cup between Citi and Dubai Luxury Homes. In true polo style, the after party hosted by Deep Nights from Trilogy rocked Dubai to its very core. The event masterminded by Steve Thompson and Adriana de Koeyer from the Dubai Polo Academy had succeeded in creating mass brand awareness of the Autism campaign and the event raised just under 200,000AED for the cause. For further details on how to make donations to the Dubai Autism Center- please visit www.dubaiautismcenter.com
Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Horsepower Challenge winners were TNT with Audi only points behind and closely followed by Penfolds and Aigner.
TNT Team :
1. Francessca Harris
2. Colin Webb
3. Mike Burbidge
4. James Drinkwater
Audi Team :
1. Ellen Meng
2. Arnie Breuer
3. Tibout Laveniere
4. James Fagan
Penfolds Team :
1. Emma Westmacott
2. Catherine Carter
3. Steve Westmacott
4. Elizabeth Clarence
Aigner Team :
1. Fiona Shepherd
2. Michaela Gradinger
3. Garry Shepherd
4. Annemieke Goos
In the final chukka of Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Cup, Dubai Luxury Homes was narrowly beaten by Citi who managed to squeeze in a couple of goals in the dying seconds of the match.
Citi Team :
1. Ragnar Meitern
2. Alice Harvey
3. Mohammed Al Habtoor
4. Rashid Al Habtoor
Dubai Luxury Homes Team:
1. Helen Tatham
2. Raja Abuljebain
3. Rodger Kay
4. Sheik Khalid