December 4, 2019

Asia, Polo News

WORLD FIRST DESERT POLO IS BORN IN THE UNSPOILED BEAUTY OF ALULA HERITAGE SITE

4. December 2019

International Polo Celebrated at Saudi Arabia’s First Official Polo Tournament

AlUla Desert Polo, the first tournament in Saudi Arabia to be held in cooperation with the Saudi Polo Federation, is to make its debut on January 16-18, 2020 as part of the Winter at Tantora cultural festival. Cradled against the backdrop of one of Arabia’s best kept secrets – the exquisite UNESCO heritage site in AlUla that will officially open to the public in October 2020 – AlUla Desert Polo represents a milestone in Saudi Arabia’s sporting and social journey. A new concept in world polo and inspired by the prestigious snow polo tournament held in St Moritz, Switzerland, Desert Polo will feature some of the most renowned players and patrons in the world of polo. Organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla in partnership with the Saudi Polo Federation, Desert Polo is one of the highlights of the three-month long Winter at Tantora festival, running from December to March and held in the historic and untouched region. Amr F Zedan, Chairman of the Saudi Polo Federation and an international polo patron said: “This tournament is a celebration of the transformational journey that we are making in Saudi Arabia. “Our goal in promoting this extraordinary event is twofold. We want to tap into the undiscovered sporting talent that we know exists among young Saudi men and women and encourage greater levels of participation in our sport. We are also proud to use sport, and polo in particular, as a vehicle to showcase a truly unique destination and an incredible overall experience to the world. Saudi Arabia has the capability, the infrastructure and, crucially, the will, to stage major events on the world stage and Desert Polo is just one example of this.” Amr AlMadani, the CEO of the Royal Commission for AlUla, welcomed the addition of Desert Polo to the prestigious and exciting roster of weekend events on the Winter at Tantora calendar: “AlUla is a place that sums up to the world the rich and as yet widely undiscovered culture within Saudi Arabia,” he said. “A major contributor to the heritage in this part of the world is our peoples’ connection to the horse. Therefore, it is symbolic that we are showcasing the progress of modern day Saudi Arabia here, in one of our most significant cultural sites.”

Winter at Tantora is offering two special polo package, for one day or three days featuring a special “Introduction to Polo” clinic. It includes a 1-hour introduction clinic to Polo, with a maximum limit of 10-per-day (first-come first-serve basis).

Tickets and packages can be purchased on experiencealula.com ; holidaysbysaudia.com or almosafer.com/en/winter-at-tantora

The Winter at Tantora festival will take place from December 19^th, 2019 – March 7^th, 2020 in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. Details about the festival, its line-up and exceptional surroundings can be found at experiencealula.com with tickets on sale now. To stay up to date, please follow @WinteratTantora on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

About Winter at Tantora Festival
Winter at Tantora is a festival in AlUla County in North-West Saudi Arabia, a place of extraordinary natural beauty and cultural heritage. Running from 19^th December 2019 to 7^th March 2020, Winter at Tantora will bring 12-weekends of wonder to the AlUla Oasis, inspired by its spectacular scenery. Home to archeological treasures, natural beauty and magnificent monuments that span millennia, AlUla is set on the ancient incense route between Southern Arabia and Egypt. It became a hub of commercial and cultural exchange because a lush oasis valley ran through it, creating an ideal environment for civilizations to flourish.

About The Saudi Polo Federation
The Saudi Polo Federation (SPF) was established in July 2018 as a means of developing the sport across The Kingdom and establishing international best practice from grass roots to elite levels. Aligned with key government stakeholders such as the General Sports Authority, the SPF works to further establish Saudi polo in a global context, continuing the work already undertaken by Saudi’s private polo patrons on the international stage.

Chaired by renowned Saudi polo player and businessman, Amr Zedan, the SPF seeks to encourage the sport among young Saudi men and women in accordance with the goals set out in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, while reflecting the transformational journey taking place in Saudi Arabia.

Photos: AlUla Desert Polo

© Thomas Wirth

International Polo Celebrated at Saudi Arabia’s First Official Polo Tournament AlUla Desert Polo, the first tournament in Saudi Arabia to be held in cooperation with the Saudi Polo Federation,…

Polo News

STAGE SET FOR 19TH EMIRATES POLO CHAMPIONSHIP INTERNATIONAL With $100,000 Prize Money

4. December 2019

The 19^th Emirates Polo Championships International kicks-off on Saturday, December 7 at the Ghantoot Racing &Polo Club with five top teams battling it out over the next two weeks. Who are the players to keep an eye on and who are the favorites to lift the prestigious trophy on December 20?

For many, the Emirates Polo Championships International signals the proper tart of the UAE Polo scene. It is a high-profile event that provides fantastic action, close matches, upsets and also produces some unsung heroes, like it did last season when Argentine’s exciting Tommy Panelo picked up the coveted Professional Player of the final award.

This year’s event has its share of star players, both from the UAE and overseas, with several big-name players from Argentine, ready to showcase their polo skills. The five participating teams are Abu Dhabi Polo Team led by long-time polo enthusiast and supporter, Abdullah Bin Desmal’s Ghantoot Polo Team, Abu Dhabi Polo Team led by Faris Al Yabhouni, Shaikha Alyaa Al Maktoum and the Al Habtoor Polo Team, Desert Palm Polo Team led by Rashid Al Bawardy and Heider Bangash’s Mahra Bangash Polo Team. The two highest rated polo players in the 10-12 handicap event are Santiago Cernadas (7) who represents a strong-looking Al Habtoor Team and Ghantoot’s six-handicapper Manuel Toccalino. A total cash prize of $100,000 is up for grabs with the winning team collecting $60,000 and the runner-up $40,000. The Emirates is widely regarded as one of the region’s most important polo events as it attracts some of the world’s top professional players.

THE TEAMS

Ghantoot (+12)
Abdullah Bin Desmal (0)
Mateo Lalor Bengolea (+2)
Esteban Costas (+4)
Manuel Toccalino (+6)

Al Habtoor (+11)
Shaika Alyaa Al Maktoum (+1)
Habtoor Al Habtoor (+1)
Santiago Cernadas (+7)
Tomas Iriarte (+4)

Desert Palm (+12)
Rashid Al Bawardy /
Cachilo Marty Hgguy (+2)
Martin Valeny (+5)
Sam Intstone (0)
Ramiro Cardero (+5)

Mahra Bangash (+10)
Heider Bangash (0)
Tariq Al Habtoor (+1)
Tuki Ruiz Guinazu (+4)
Federico Von Potobsky (+5)

Abu Dhabi(+11)
Faris Al Yabhouni (0)
Sergio Damian Quiroga (+2)
Hugo Barabucci (+4)
Martin Donovan (+5)

At A Glance

What: UAE Polo championships International

When: December 7th to 20^th,, 2019

Where: Ghantoot Racing & Polo Club

Watch all the polo games live : www.grpc.ae – via Polocam TV

For more infos: www.grpc.ae

Official social media: www.instagram.com/ghantootpolo

EVENT SPONSORS

Governing Partner
Abu Dhabi Sports Council
Emirates Polo Association

Official Sponsor
Yas International Properties
Yas International Holding
Yas International Investment
Yas International Development
Yas Capital Investment
La Roche Pharmacy

Official Car
Premier Motors – Maserati

Sponsors:
Cassells Al Barsha Hotel
Bin Ham Travels