British Polo Day, presented by Land Rover, returns to the USA on Saturday 30 May to ‘swing their mallets’ for British luxury heritage. Hosted by the President of the Will Rogers Polo Club, Andrew Bossom British Polo Day’s USA Representative – and member of the British Royal Family – Lord Frederick Windso and his wife, actress and writer Sophie Winkleman – guests and VIPs will be treated to a day of fast-paced polo on the pitches of Los Angeles’ historic Will Rogers Polo Club.
With last year’s inaugural British Polo Day USA seeing the likes of David Walton, Elon Musk, Talulah Riley and Cassian Elwes come together to raise impressive funds for charity, the 2015 event is set to raise the bar ever-higher. This year, Royal Salute brings along special guests The Duke of Argyll and ‘big wave’ surfer and polo player Nakoa Decoite who will be among those celebrating the very best of British luxury heritage under the West Coast sunshine.
Arriving in chauffeur-driven Range Rovers, guests will be treated to a pitchside Champagne Taittinger reception and a quintessential British ‘Harrods Garden Party’, hosted by none-other-than the Harrods Green Man himself.
Meanwhile, Royal Salute will present its handcrafted Neolithic Bar by renowned British designer Sally Mackereth – a true expression oftimeless and contemporary British craftsmanship. Alongside, will be some daring and authentic furnishings by Timothy Oulton – the perfect vantage point for the day’s opening Brompton Bicycle polo match. Always an amusing spectacle!
Guests will then sit down to an exquisite lunch, expertly paired with wines from Royal Warrant holders Justerini & Brooks, before the gavel sounds the start of the eagerly-anticipated Charity Auction.
As part of an ongoing commitment to philanthropy – which has to date raised almost US$1.5 million for charities worldwide – British Polo Day USA is delighted to be supporting local Los Angeles charity, Homeboy Industries alongside The UK Stem Cell Foundation. With lots including a week in a 3RD HOME property, a private Surf Air vineyard getaway for two, five nights at the Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives and four nights at the dazzling Royal Mansour in Marrakesh among others, bidding is set to be fierce.
The afternoon’s polo will then begin with the Land Rover Will Rogers Plate – set to be an exhilarating encounter between Harrow and home side, The Will Rogers Polo Club. Following this, the industrious bakers at Homeboy Industries will be serving a delicious afternoon tea, before the British Schools and Southern California Polo Club teams take to the pitch for the final match of the day: the Hackett Cup.
As is traditional, the day will draw to a close with the British Polo Day Official Prizegiving. Lord Frederick Windsor will present the triumphant teams with their bespoke British Silverware-designed Land Rover Will Rogers Plate and Hackett Cup – as well as Royal Salute’s ‘Most Valuable Player’, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s ‘Best Playing Pony’ and the Holland & Holland ‘Shot of The Day’ – before dramatically ‘sabering off’ several bottles of Champagne Taittinger to kick off the festivities! Guests will then head off to one of Los Angeles’ hottest night spots for the evening’s after-party.
Travelling with Abercrombie & Kent, British Polo Day USA guests will spend the preceding days taking in some of the city’s most famous sites – a day of Venice Beach volleyball, a private tour of the Getty Museum and the Getty Villa. The Royal Salute Patrons’ Dinner and subsequent Players Gathering will take place on the eve of the event itself – on Friday 29th May – at a private Hollywood home, in collaboration with The Supper Club.
Kicking-off the four-day extravaganza will be the official Launch Party on the magnificent rooftop of The London Hotel, West Hollywood. Hollywood society will run shoulders with business moguls and polo enthusiasts from around the world, while a superb fashion showcase and a spectacular Champagne Taittinger tower will set a suitably glamorous tone for the coming days.
British Polo Day USA Host and Representative Lord Frederick Windsor comments: “It is with great pleasure that my wife Sophie and I are once again supporting British Polo Day in the United States. The unique event is set to be one of the most enjoyable and sought-after invitations in town. Given the charm, exuberance and strength of will that it has taken to forge this young enterprise, British Polo Day USA is certainly establishing itself right at the forefront of what is now a truly global network.”
British Polo Day CEO and Co-Founder Ed Olver adds: “We are delighted to return to The Will Rogers Polo Club for the second British Polo Day USA. The USA – unquestionably the world leaders when it comes to philanthropy – represents an excellent opportunity not only to raise funds for UKSCF and Homeboy Industries but also for their outstanding endeavours to be brought to the attention of international thought-leaders in California and a truly global British Polo Day audience.”
