File:British Polo Day - China 2015.webm

Arriving in chauffeur-driven Land Rovers, British Polo Day China’s guests and VIPs enjoyed a pitch-side Champagne Taittinger Reception, while watching the opening Brompton Bicycle Polo Exhibition Match – a thoroughly British pursuit in which the British Airways Rest of World and Hackett Exiles resulted in a very diplomatic 1- 1 draw. Swapping pedals for ponies, the British Polo Day China players then took to the field for the official Opening Ceremony, before the The NUO Hotel British Exiles/China team took on home side, the Royal Salute Tang Polo Club in The Land Rover Tang Dynasty Plate. The two six goalers on the NUO Hotel British Exiles team were a close match for the two pros on the Royal Salute Tang Polo Club team. With wonderful play – and fine runs from Miguel Diaz and Adrian Laplacette, as well as their British Exiles counterparts – the home team Royal Salute Tang Polo Club emerged triumphant with an 8 1/2 to 5 win. The second match of the day, The Hackett China Cup, saw the RJI Capital British Schools team take on their Chinese counterpart: the Land Rover BCC team. Felipe Courel and Juan Ramiro played a tough offensive against the British Schools team, but wonderful play from Jack Severn and Roy Prisk supported Chevy Beh who scored the star-goal in the second chukka, resulting in a 7 to 4 1/2 victory to the RJI Capital British Schools polo team. Pitch-side, guests were treated to the time honoured and delicately crafted whisky – Royal Salute – at the bar, followed by a traditional afternoon tea by NUO Hotel Beijing. ‘Pop-ups’ from Hackett and Brompton offered monogrammed embroidered handkerchiefs and impromptu bike rides, respectively. At the Harrods Garden Party, the resident Harrods Green Man enjoyed ice creams and traditional garden games with guests. With players including top British player George Meyrick, Nacho Gonzalez, Chevy Beh and of course Shilai Liu himself, competition was fierce for a spot on the British Polo Day prize-giving podium. The glamorous Minal Bidani presented the superb bespoke-designed British Silverware Hackett China Cup to the triumphant RJI Capital British Schools team. Meanwhile Harrods’ Michael Ward presented the Land Rover Tang Dynasty Plate to reigning champions, the Royal Salute Tang Polo Club. Chevy Beh was awarded the Royal Salute ‘Most Valuable Player’ and Jack Severn, the Holland & Holland ‘Shot of The Day’; while magnificent grey mare Grey Girl won NUO Hotel Beijing’s ‘Best Playing Pony’. Off the field, the stakes were high with Adrian Rudin winning Hackett’s ‘Best Dressed’ prize and Michael Spencer of Golden Peaks Capital winning the Harrods ‘Luck of the Draw’.