British Polo Day Returns to LA

Photo Credit: Keoma Zec

Last Saturday, an elegant crowd joined British Royal family member Lord Frederik Windsor for the second annual British Polo Day in LA at Will Rogers Polo Club for tea, Tattinger and equine pursuits.

The event, which was also hosted by Andrew Bossom and attended by the Duke of Argyll, Prince and Princess Charles Windisch-Graetz, Robert and Justine Bloomingdale, Yana and Fabrizio Alliata di Montreale, Wendy Stark, Dhani Harrison, Bo Derick, top DJ Paul Oakenfold, Sonia Pim Couling and Kenny Loggins, raised over $60,000 for charity.

Photo Credit: Keoma ZecAfter a champagne reception provided by Tattinger, an opening match of Brompton Bicycle Polo amused guests prior to lunch. From their beautifully-designed Timothy Oulton seats, guests saw The Hackett British Exiles narrowly clinch a 3-2 victory from the Will Rogers team. Meanwhile, in the pitch-side Harrods Garden Party, guests dabbled in some of Britain’s favorite pastimes like a traditional game of croquet, giant Jenga and sitting for some rather amusing depictions by the resident caricaturist.

During the luncheon, Royal Salute special guest Torquhil Ian Campbell, the 13th Duke of Argyll, led a spectacular Quaich experience. With a resounding ‘slangevar,’ guests toasted the day ahead with the bespoke 21-year-old whisky.

Photo Credit: Keoma ZecWith Justerini & Brooks fine wines flowing and sprits high, the gavel sounded for the eagerly-anticipated British Polo Day USA Charity Auction. This year’s auction raised money for Homeboy Industries, which empowers former gang members to be self-sufficient, and The UK Stem Cell Foundation, the only UK charity to focus specifically on stem cell research as a potential treatment for a wide range of conditions and diseases.

Kicking off the action, the Hackett Harrow Polo team took on the home side, Royal Salute Will Rogers Polo Club in The Land Rover Will Rogers Plate. Although Rupert Lewis, Andrew Bossom and Imelda de Alba in particular provided some great play, the home team prevailed and the Hackett Harrow Polo team narrowly missed a last-minute penalty losing the match 4 goals to 5.

Photo Credit: Keoma ZecFollowing an afternoon tea provided by Homeboy Industries, the Justerini & Brooks British Schools team then faced The London Southern California Polo team in the final match of the day: The Hackett Bossom Cup. With some exemplary efforts from Dillon Bacon and Chevy Beh, the Justerini & Brooks British Schools team claimed victory over their Californian rivals in a thrilling game ending 10-5.

At the official British Polo Day USA prize-giving, the bespoke British silverware-designed Land Rover Will Rogers Plate was presented by Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor to winners, Royal Salute Will Rogers Polo Club while the triumphant Justerini & Brooks British Schools team then took to the podium to claim British Silverware’s Hackett Bossom Cup.

Photo Credit: Keoma ZecRoyal Salute’s Most Valuable Player was presented to Chevy Beh, while Graydon Brittan won the Holland & Holland Shot of the Day and The London’s Best Playing Pony went to Café, ridden By Imelda de Alba. Imelda herself took home The Harrods ‘Luck of the Draw’—presented by none other than British Polo Day’s very own resident Harrods Green Man—while the dapper Dave Burt won the Hackett Best Dressed prize.

Setting the tone for the evening ahead, seasoned British Polo Day player Max Kirchhoff then dramatically ‘sabered off’ several bottles of Champagne Taittinger to kick off the celebrations. Guests proceeded to dance the night away at 1OAK.

The event was partnered with Land Rover, Harrods, Hackett London, Royal Salute, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Justerini & Brooks, Brompton, Charles Russell Speechlys, Holland & Holland, Champagne Taittinger, Billionaire.com,  Abercrombie & Kent, Global Partnership Family Offices, British Silverware, Great British Racing International, Nihiwatu, D.R Harris & Co, The Grosvenor Stationery Company, South Kensington Club, The Cavalry & Guards Club, Paul A Young Fine Chocolates, Floris, Bonas MacFarlane Education, Benthorp, Taylor Morris Eyewear, Bib & Sola, Jax Coco, Cassabo, Walpole, Pendragon Productions, 3RD  HOME, The Supper Club, Timothy Oulton, Hendricks, The London, Malibu Farm, Homeboy Industries and The UK Stem Cell Foundation. 

Photo Credit: Keoma Zec