UAE Polo and Desert Palm will play the final of the McLaren Cup

 

1st February 2017, DUBAI, UAE by Gonzalo Etcheverry:  UAE Polo and Desert Palm won today their respective matches for the semifinals of the McLaren Cup held at the Al Habtoor Polo Resort and will play the final of the McLaren Cup, first trophy of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2017.

 

Desert Palm defeated Habtoor in OT by 8 goals to 7 and UAE beat Bin Drai by 9.5 goals to 7.

With this victories Desert Palm will play against UAE Polo next friday the grand finale of the McLaren Cup from 3pm at Al Habtoor Polo Resort.

 

Casually Desert Palm and UAE Polo won in the semifinals by the same result they achieved in the quarterfinal matches, played last monday. Also, Desert Palm achieved their second victory in OT in a row.

 

In the first semifinal of the day, UAE Polo played a great game, and again, teamwork was the clue to defeat a tough Bin Drai foursome. 

UAE Polo, made up by Ali Al Merri, Jack Hyde, Matías Benoit and Guillermo Terrera, played three chukkers (2nd, 3rd and 4th) at a very high level to leave Bin Drai without options to react.

Despite the two goals scored by Bin Drai in the last chukker, UAE Polo victory was insured and the deserved ticket to the final came with the 9.5 to 7 triumph.

 

Match progression:

UAE Polo: 1.5-2/ 5.5-3/ 8.5-3/ 9.5-5/ 9.5-7

 

In the second match of the day, Desert Palm and Habtoor Polo played a much even game with the control of the actions and the score divided for each side in almost all of the chukkers.

The equal opportunities they had took the game to an extra chukker. It was a penalty, from the 40 yards scored by Santiago Laborde, that gave Desert Palm the victory and the remaining place in the great final of the McLaren Cup.

Nicolás Pieres (Habtoor Polo) was the top scorer of the match with 5 goals and Alejo Taranco, with 4, the top scorer in the winning team.

 

Match progression:

Desert Palm: 1-2/ 4-3/ 5-3/ 5-6/ 7-7/ 8-7

 

 

 

The McLaren Cup final will be held next friday at the Al Habtoor Polo Resort from 3 pm with UAE Polo vs Desert Palm. From 1 pm, the Hildon Cup will be played between Mahra Polo Team and Zedan Polo.

 

Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series

The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series (Dubai Open), an 18 Goal Handicap competition, enters its eighth year under the Patronage of HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai.  The tournament is now the highest handicap in the UAE.

 

The Dubai Open has been split into two tournaments. Starting with the McLaren Cup, which runs from Saturday January 21st, 2017 to Friday February 3rd, 2017. The second tournament, the Julius Baer Gold Cup, commences on Friday, February 18th, 2017 to Friday March 10th, 2017.

 

The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series is the fourth-largest tournament of its kind after Argentina, the US and the UK. First founded by Mohammed Al Habtoor in 2009, the tournament is the premier regional polo competition of the year, and attracts VIPs, society figures, and senior corporate executives from across the GCC.   It has grown in tandem with the city of Dubai and since 2012, it is the only tournament in the UAE to be recognized and certified by the World Polo Tour (WPT).   It is played under the banner of the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), with the Gold Cup being played according to HPA rules and the provision of umpires is managed under strict international supervision by the HPA.

 

Mohammed Al Habtoor, Founder of the tournament and patron of the Habtoor Polo team said, “This year there are seven teams playing in the McLaren Cup and ten teams for the Julius Baer Gold Cup, further evidence that the tournaments continue to grow. The Dubai Open has helped put the UAE on the world polo circuit. Each year the competition gets better and better, and we attract some of the best polo players in the world.”

The participating teams will host some of the top-ranking World Polo Tour players, including Pablo Mac Donough, the 10-goal superstar and three-time ‘Triple Crown Champion with La Dolfina’; Nicolas Pieres, who was recently raised to 10 goals after his superb performance in the Argentine Open; Lucas Montverde (9-goal handicap); Alfredo Cappella Barabucci (9-goal handicap) Guillermo Terrera (8-goal handicap), and Ezquiel Martinez Ferrario (8-goal handicap) and many others, who have come directly from Argentine Open.  

The Dubai Polo Gold Cup will be held at the Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club, Dubai Land. 

 

 Seven polo teams will be participating in the McLaren Cup 2017 18-goal handicap: 

• Mahra Polo – Patron: Rashid Al Habtoor

• Bin Drai Polo Team – Patron: Saeed Bin Drai

• Habtoor Polo Team – Patron: Mohammed Al Habtoor

 

• UAE Polo Team – Patron: Her Highness Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

• Zedan Polo Team – Patron: Amr Zedan

• Habtoor Wolves Polo Team – Patron: Habtoor Al Habtoor

• Desert Palm Polo Team – Tariq Albwardy

-END-

 

About Dubai Polo Gold Cup

The DPGC Series has wrapped up its latest season with resounding success. Each year the tournament reaches new heights. In 2012 the Dubai Gold Cup Series was recognized by the World Polo Tour (WPT) and in January 2014 the WPT committee announce that the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series’ has enabled its important tournament (Gold Cup) for being the highest tournament in points within the Challenge Cup category by raising to 50 points for the winners. The certificate of entry was presented by the international polo. In 2015 marked the first time ever that the World Polo Tour (WPT) upgraded the Tournament from ‘Challenge Cup’ to the highly coveted ‘WPT Cup’, meaning winners received 60 points. The 18 goal handicap competition is now the highest handicapped event in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, ranking it among the best polo tournaments worldwide. 

 

SILVER CUP TITLE SPONSOR:

McLaren:

In support of the sporting spirit of the nation, Al Habtoor Motors – the official retailer of McLaren in the UAE – is proud to announce the Title Sponsorship for the Silver Cup of the prestigious Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2016. 

  

Although McLaren’s origins are rooted in racing, McLaren today is much more than just a race team. After half a century of innovating to win, McLaren has evolved into a groundbreaking technology group, where related expertise cross-pollinates with truly emotional results. Two areas in which our expertise has truly defined us are carbon fibre and advanced simulation.

 

Adopting a ‘no-compromise’ philosophy at its core in vehicle design, McLaren produces supercars and sportscars that deliver the broadest range of capabilities possible. This means that a McLaren offers the most thrilling driving experience in its class as well as making it the most comfortable and refined car in its sector.

 

OFFICIAL AIRLINE PARTNER:

Emirates:

 

Emirates is a global connector of people and places, and has received hundreds of international awards and accolades for excellence. Emirates flies to 154 destinations in 82 countries. Operating 248 wide-body Airbus and Boeing aircraft, including the industry leading aircraft A380, Emirates has pending deliveries for an additional 237 aircraft, worth more than USD$114 billion. The airline’s luxurious amenities, regionally inspired gourmet cuisine, award-winning in-flight entertainment system – ice – and unmatched hospitality provided by its iconic multilingual Cabin Crew have made Emirates one of the world’s most recognized airline brands. 

 

The airline’s vast portfolio of international sports and cultural sponsorships brings people together to discover, enjoy, and share enriching experiences. Leading Football  clubs such as Arsenal FC, Real Madrid C.F., AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Hamburger SV, Olympiacos FC , Benfica and New York Cosmos sport iconic ‘Fly Emirates’ jerseys. Emirates’ commitment to other sports include Tennis (ATP World Tour, Emirates ATP Rankings, Emirates Airline US Open Series, US Open, French Open), Golf (Emirates Australian Open Championship, DP World Tour Championship), Cricket (All major ICC events and ICC Elite Panel of Umpires), Horse Racing (Emirates Melbourne Cup, Dubai World Cup), Rugby (Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens, Rugby World Cup) Sailing (Emirates Team New Zealand) and Formula One (Global Partner). 

 

For more information please visit www.emirates.com

 

 

 

 

 

CO-SPONSORS:

Hildon Water:

Hildon is an English Natural Mineral Water which lies deep within the chalk hills of Hampshire, as a result it is of the highest quality. Bottled at its source on the Hildon Estate in Hampshire and Imported from the UK, it is distributed exclusively by Top Shelf Beverages in the region, Hildon Natural Mineral Water is a proud sponsor and supporter of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2016.  For more information and to stock Hildon, please contact [email protected] or call +971 4 4531782.

 

Diamond Lease:

Diamondlease L.L.C, a fully owned subsidiary of the Al Habtoor Group, was established in 1996 to offer automotive rental & leasing solutions, as an alternative to owning and maintaining vehicles, to Corporate & Individual customers in the UAE. Currently Diamondlease serves more than 700 companies and multinational conglomerates operating in UAE, handling and managing their transportation requirements. 

 

Diamondlease is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company with a fleet of over 8400 vehicles. It was the first local Car Rental Company in UAE to receive an ISO certification and has proudly held the accreditation since 1999. In recognition of its sound business ethics and outstanding customer service, Diamondlease was one of the first car rental companies to have been nominated as a member of the prestigious Dubai Service Excellence Scheme (DSES) in 2003.

 

Diamondlease has been awarded the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Travel Awards being adjudged the “Best Car Rental Company” – Local Brand for 7 years in a row.

 

MEDIA PARTNERS 

OK! Middle East:

The exclusive official media sponsor for the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2016 (Dubai Open).  OK! Middle East celebrates the A-list each week, revealing the latest news, photos and in-depth features on international celebrities and home-grown VIPs, socialites and trendsetters in an engaging and positive way; bringing the OK! reader closer to the stars than any other magazine.

 

With access all areas to the glamour of Hollywood, OK! features inspirational celebrity-led fashion and beauty, providing our in-the-know readers with the tips and trends to look and feel their A-list best.

 

OK! Middle East is the only magazine to be invited into the homes of the rich, famous and influential, and is always on the guest list for the glittering red carpet events, hot openings and invite-only launches that are synonymous with our region.

 

Welcome to your exclusive entry into the world of stardom, glamour and celebrity life... welcome to OK! Middle East.

 

PoloLine:

PoloLine is the leading global provider of news, information and services about polo, offering up to the minute news from all the major polo events around the world. With over 100,000 unique visitors from more than 80 countries. PoloLine offers unprecedented reach to the highly desirable target market of Polo enthusiasts. 

 

Al Badia: 

Since 2008, Al Badia, the prestigious Arabic venture is devoted to bringing the latest news and views on the equestrian world, Polo sporting and lifestyle. In fact it is a tribute to the age old passion for the thoroughbred, an integral part of the rich Arabian culture.

Al Badia focuses a gamut of information on the highly valued sport of horseracing, including information about events taking place in the Arab world and about organizations and services sought by equestrians of all disciplines.

Besides being a specialized lifestyle magazine to meet the refined taste of the equestrian community, it features a wide range of information including very exclusive coverages like interviews of the Sheikhs and the who’s who of the Arab world. It targets the crème de la crème of the society and is widely circulated across different regions of the Gulf & Middle East.

Al Badia is a good platform to showcase premium brands, as it has a wide readership comprising sports enthusiasts, socialites, eminent personalities, celebrities and the royalty.

 

 

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Dubai Sports Council:

Dubai Sports Council is the official government body responsible for the development of the sport sector in the Emirate of Dubai. Under the Chairmanship of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and its 14 Board Members; the Council supervises the work of nine local clubs in Dubai, six of which practice a variety kinds of individual and or team sports, such as football, handball and archery; in addition to the chess club and a club devoted for those with special needs. 

 

Since its inception in 2006, with the vision of creating a unique sporting community, the Council organizes various annual major Sports Championships and Conferences, in cooperation with multiple International/National sports bodies and Dubai Government Entities, such as the Dubai International Sports Conference, Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup and the FINA Diving World Series; in an attempt to enhance the culture, knowledge and expertise of professionalism in all aspects of the field; from the overall preparation and/or execution of the event. 

 

Dubai became the first Arab and Middle East city to host the Sport Accord International Convention in 2010, and stages the annual Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award, the most prestigious Award of the Middle East Region. Though the Council works on various major international sports events, it does not overlook the importance of spreading the awareness of a healthier, more active lifestyle locally; and in order to achieve such objectives, physical activity programs and initiatives, such as the Dubai Pulse Physical Activity program, the Furjan District Championships and the Dubai Beach Soccer League, have all been designed to target the various communities within the Emirate.

 

 

Cristina Gusita

Polo Coordinator General

Dubai Polo Gold Cup

E-mail: [email protected]