Guards Polo Club Official Yearbook 2017 Official Yearbook 2017 | Page 30

business of polo
partnership with Mosimann’s. The chance
to attract such a world-class, private dining
restaurant and hospitality organisation is
a huge feather in our cap and bodes so
well for the future. This partnership has
the potential for creating a raft of other
activities, including social events through
the winter in addition to our regular
“The total spend of this
work was in excess of
£100,000 and I cannot
think of better way of
confirming to the polo
community that Guards
Polo Club remains
committed to excellence
and the upcoming
polo season”
Enrico Roselli of La Martina Europe with Neil Hobday in the Clubhouse on Varsity Day
Hildon to sponsor the ever-popular Archie
David. I think it is a fitting sponsorship as
we all remember how much Christian Heppe
loved to play polo and watch polo. In fact,
he loved this Club so much that he built our
Royal Box twice at his own expense!
Cartier, probably the most visible and
well-known sponsor in polo, is coming
into its sixth year of sponsorship of the
Cartier Queen’s Cup. Under the inspiring
leadership of Laurent Feniou, our
relationship with Cartier just gets stronger
and stronger. And with the Polo Office
expecting another competitive entry for
the 22-goal contest this year, both Cartier
and the Club can once again expect some
impressive sport from the world’s top
players and ponies.
Meanwhile, Land Rover will be celebrating
its third year of its first polo sponsorship
with Guards Polo Club. This leading British
brand has been terrifically supportive
to the Club and to our tournaments –
especially the Land Rover Duke of Cornwall
tournament, which sees increases in team
entries year-on-year. As Max Charlton, Land
Rover’s first polo ambassador, said recently:
“The Duke of Cornwall is popular with the
players as it is the only 16-goal tournament
played at that time of year [August] in the
UK. Players really appreciate the opportunity
30
to have some high-goal games at home so
late in the season.”
Land Rover has also provided a
significant contribution towards the
Hurlingham Polo Association’s (HPA)
Royal Salute Coronation Cup Day.
This year the HPA has confirmed that
England will face a rematch against a
Commonwealth squad in the showcase
game. Last year’s contest was one of the
most exciting Coronation Cup matches
ever, but this year’s is likely to be even
more thrilling. Both Royal Salute and
Guards Polo Club are in the final year of
their current contracts with the HPA and
we look forward to discussing the future of
the international day format with them.
Last year saw the start of a ground-
breaking, multi-faceted sponsorship
with Oxford and Cambridge University
Polo Clubs and La Martina. The Club
now represents these university teams
commercially and has successfully delivered
their first major deal by introducing them
to La Martina. This has not only provided
cash and equipment, but also ensured a
first-class sponsorship for Varsity Day, the
leading day of student polo in the UK.
Away from the field of play, one of
the most exciting developments that the
Club has seen in many years is our new
summer season. Working with such a
professional and talented team is going to
make the Club even more desirable to our
members – playing and social.
That said, the team at Guards Polo Club
has never been idle in the off season.
Our winter activities overseas have
predominantly focused on our relationship
with Ali Albwardy’s Desert Palm Polo Club
in Dubai and we continue to run a vibrant
Cartier tournament there each November.
We also remain interested in exploring
opportunities in South America and
China and are delighted to now include
the Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club in
Tianjin, China, as the latest member of our
impressive reciprocal clubs’ scheme.
Not surprisingly, Guards Polo Club
is proud of its commercial track record
and its success has ensured the Club’s
position as one of the leading polo clubs
in the world. However, we have recently
taken steps to ensure that we continue
to receive good advice and continuity by
forming a specific commercial board of
directors, each of whom brings relevant
experience and expertise to the table (see
page 14). These two boards, plus our
strong team in the office, headed up by
Chief Financial Officer James Neighbour,
Polo Manager Antony Fanshsawe and
Sponsorship Director Heather Lodder,
ensure that your Club is in the best
position possible to stand tall in this
brave, new, post-Brexit world.
guards polo club official yearbook 2017