The New Zealand Polo Team, sponsored by EFG, is making a welcome return to Guards Polo Club on Sunday 25 July when they will play in the Coronation Cup on Cartier International Day. The visitors, once again captained by the talented John Paul Clarkin, will be appearing for the fifth time in this historic match. The last time that these two teams met – in 2006 – the Audi-sponsored England team took the honours. So this year Clarkin and his team, Simon Keyte, Tommy Wilson and Sam Hopkinson, will be keen to avenge that defeat. However they have already tasted victory this year with a win - on New Zealand soil - over England and that win will have boosted their confidence.
The England team will be captained by the talented Luke Tomlinson, who has been at the helm of the home side for some seven years. He will be joined by his brother Mark, James Beim and Malcolm Borwick. This quartet comes to this match with much experience of playing together, which will stand them in good stead on the last Sunday in July.
The polo action starts a lot earlier though with a Westbury Hotel Mayfair Prince of Wales Team in action against a How To Spend It Hurlingham squad. This match, which starts at 11am, is always a showcase of English polo talent and many of today’s England players began their international careers in this match for the Golden Jubilee Trophy.
This year’s event also marks Cartier’s 26th year of sponsorship of this world-famous sporting event. Cartier first sponsored the Hurlingham Polo Association’s (HPA) International Day in 1984. Today Cartier International Day is the world’s largest spectator polo day, attracting some 25,000 people. The action on the field has to impress as it has to vie with an impressive guest list provided by Cartier, who invite some 600 guests from the worlds of literature, stage, screen and sport to enjoy a sumptuous lunch in the Cartier marquee, prepared by leading chef Anton Mosimann. Previous guests have included HRH Prince William, Elton John, Pierce Brosnan, Cate Blanchett, Angelica Houston and Orlando Bloom.
Arnaud Bamberger, Managing Director of Cartier, sums up the importance of this event to Cartier: “Cartier and polo are the perfect marriage. The sport of kings and the ‘king of jewellers’, as conveyed by Edward Vll, come together for the English summer season finale on Cartier International Day. It is the ultimate sporting occasion; the exceptionally talented players, the surroundings of Windsor Great Park and the wonderful company, all make this a very special day.”
After the action on the field, guests can then linger at the Club to enjoy the evening in Chinawhite’s impressive marquee. For tickets and further event information please call Guards Polo Club’s Ticket Office on 01784 437797 or log on to www.guardspoloclub.com. For further information on the after polo events please log on to www.chinawhite.com.
Caption: England and New Zealand line up after the Coronation Cup match 2006.
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