British Polo Day Crosses Morocco

On Saturday 25 April, British Polo Day will once again set foot on Moroccan plains for the return of British Polo Day Morocco, presented by Land Rover. Taking place at the exclusive Jnan Amar Polo Club for the benefit of the Eve Branson Foundation – under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco – the weekend will offer unique access to some of Marrakech’s most historic residences, alongside some vertiginous adventures in the Atlas Mountains.

With last year’s event seeing guests including Sir Richard Branson, philanthropist Eve Branson, Philip Treacy, the British and American Ambassadors to Morocco and a handful of Virgin Galactic astronauts gather to raise just shy of US$180,000 for the Foundation, this year’s event is set to raise this record bar ever-higher.

Travelling with Abercrombie & Kent, the British Polo Day itinerary will take in some of the most spectacular corners of the medieval city of Marrakech – the official launch party at Royal Mansour, a sunset rooftop party in the midst of the medina at El Fenn, a Gala Dinner at Dar Soukkar and a unique Land Rover Driving Experience through the Atlas Mountains. As part of this expedition, guests will get behind the wheel of Land Rover’s newest Range Rover Sport for a thrilling drive through the mountains to some of Eve Branson’ remote project villages.

On the day itself – Saturday 25 April – VIPs and guests will arrive in style at the exquisite Jnan Amar Polo Club, in a fleet of Range Rovers. Set in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, the Jnan Amar Polo Resort Marrakech is the first of its kind in North Africa. The soon-to-be-launched Ritz-Carlton Private Residences offer a unique opportunity to live in the midst of this prestigious estate, while the Club’s superb new Ritz Carlton Hotel will open in 2017.

A highly-entertaining game of Brompton Bicycle Polo provides the perfect quintessential British backdrop to the opening Champagne Taittinger reception. Taking their seats for lunch in the  traditional Berber tents overlooking the polo field below, guests will then watch the Royal Salute Eve Branson Commonwealth team take on home side the Jnan Amar Rest of the World: sure to be a closely-fought contest!

Competition will no doubt be fierce for the British Silverware bespoke-commissioned Jnan Amar Cup as well as accolades such as Royal Salute’s Most Valuable Player, Holland & Holland’s Shot of the Day and Best Playing Pony. 

Following last year’s philanthropic success, the Charity Auction is set to be the highlight of the evening’s Gala Dinner, raising money for the Eve Branson Foundation, which supports education, employment and healthcare initiatives in remote Berber villages, as well as Jnan Amar’s children’s charity Ninos. Lots will include: seven days on the edge of wildness at exclusive retreat Nihiwatu, Sumba, four nights at the Royal Mansour and, of course, a Brompton bicycle. The following day, Sir Richard Branson will invite the top three bidders in the charity auction to a private lunch at Kasbah Tamadot and a memorable game of doubles tennis!

Commenting on the British Polo Day Morocco, Co-Founder Tom Hudson says: “British Polo Day Morocco at the Jnan Amar Polo Club is one of the highlights of the British Polo Day Global Series. I can think of no better cause than the Eve Branson Foundation for us all to gather for this weekend in magical Marrakech.”

Eve Branson, Founder of the Eve Branson Foundation adds: “Time is approaching fast for my third polo fundraising event in Morocco with the Jnan Amar Polo Resort and the second partnered with British Polo Day. It is an important weekend for the Eve Branson Foundation, as we hope to raise sufficient funds to keep my work in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains solvent for yet another year. This year’s polo event, taking place over 23^rd to 25^th April 2015, will again be great fun for all our guests and will offer a variety of wonderful Moroccan events, culminating in our spectacular Gala evening and auction, for the benefit of my Foundation. We are looking forward to enjoying an incredible and worthy Moroccan weekend!”