Words: Patrick
At the end of May – and for the first time ever – British Polo Day launched across the pond with an event at the Will Rogers Polo Club in California. Presented by Land Rover and hosted by the President of the club Andrew Bossom, and British Polo Day’s USA representative Lord Frederick Windsor and his wife, the day saw over 400 guests and VIPs attend the inaugural event.
Guests including The Duke of Argyll, David Walton, Elon Musk, Talulah Riley, Olivier de Givenchy, Cassian Elwes and Paul McKenna enjoyed a superb day of polo and also helped to raise US$54,250 for the benefit of Great Ormond Street Hospital and Homeboy Industries.
Under the glorious West Coast sunshine, guests were treated to a champagne reception and a thoroughly British game of Brompton bicycle polo, before taking their seats for a three-course lunch and auction.
From auction hammer to polo mallet, the day’s thrilling mounted sport then got underway, culminating with the prize giving ceremony. With the crowds gathered, Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor then presented the coveted trophies. First up were the winners of the Hackett Trophy, Eton College, whose captain Tristan Phillimore stepped forward to receive the prize. Up next to claim the prestigious Land Rover Cup was captain of The London’s Southern California Polo Team, Domingo Questel.
Lord Frederick Windsor added: ‘Today was the perfect confluence of the glamour and entrepreneurial spirit of California, meeting the heritage and dynamism of British Polo Day’s global vision.”
The VIP after-party continued late into the night at Los Angeles’ hottest nightspot, Shore Bar.
Photography: Sam Churchill
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