The countdown to British Polo Day Morocco begins – Philip Treacy,
Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic astronauts fly in for high-profile event
On Saturday 19th April, British Polo Day, presented by Land Rover, brings elegance, style and the best amateur traditions of polo to African soil with British Polo Day Morocco, for the benefit of the Eve Branson Foundation at the Jnan Amar Polo Club.
Launching this landmark event will be some of world’s most influential figures in business, fashion, polo and high-society. Guests including Sir Richard Branson (and his team of Virgin Galactic astronauts), philanthropist Eve Branson, iconic British milliner Philip Treacy, fashion designer Zaeem Jamal, Princess Dalal Al Saud and British Ambassador to Morocco Clive Alderton will be hosted by the Jnan Amar Polo Club, under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco and under the auspices of the Royal Moroccan Federation.
During the latest leg of the British Polo Day Global Series, Sir Richard Branson met some of the British Polo Day players to wish them luck ahead of both British Polo Day Dubai (Friday 28th March) and British Polo Day Morocco (Saturday 19th April). Branson will once again join the team for in Morocco as they go head to head with the Moroccan Royal Guard and Jnan Amar Polo Club, for the benefit of his mother’s charity, The Eve Branson Foundation.
Travelling with Abercrombie & Kent, international guests will enjoy an exclusive four-day itinerary, taking in some of Marrakech’s most spectacular landmarks.
Setting the precedent for this unique event, guests will enjoy an exclusive private viewing of Royal Mansour’s Yahya&Qotbi exhibition over cocktails and Royal Salute scotch whisky – one of British Polo Day’s most recent global partners – on the evening of Thursday 17 April. The next day, guests will also explore their surroundings as part of the Atlas Mountains Land Rover Experience. Honing their off-road driving skills, guests and Virgin Galactic Astronauts, including Maureen Gannon (Co-Founder of Virgin Glactic) will drive through the mountains to visit some of Morocco’s most remote struggling Berber villages, supported by The Eve Branson Foundation.
The day itself – Saturday 19th April – culminates in British Polo Day Morocco’s closing Gala Dinner, Fashion Show and Charity Auction in the historic, regal La Mamounia. Celebrated womenswear designer, Zaeem Jamal will join forces with the eminent Philip Treacy for their very first collaborative show – a spectacular showcase of beautiful eveningwear and stunning millinery.
As part of an ongoing commitment to philanthropy, British Polo Day Morocco is delighted to support the work of Eve Branson, Sir Richard Branson’s mother, and her Foundation that works to support education, employment and healthcare initiatives in these villages. With a Charity Auction featuring prizes such as an opportunity to play tennis with Sir Richard Branson; a US$15,000 seven-day experience at Nihiwatu, Sumba; a week in one of 3rd Home’s luxurious properties and Virgin flights to New York; British Polo Day hopes to raise significant funds for this worthy cause.
British Polo Day showcases over 30 top British luxury brands, providing a platform for British business in emerging markets. Through partnerships with leading luxury brands such as Land Rover, Hackett, Ettinger London, Justerini & Brooks and – new for 2014 – Royal Salute, British Polo Day Morocco acts as a conduit for championing quintessential British heritage and craftsmanship.
Commenting on British Polo Day Morocco, Eve Branson said: “The aim of my foundation is to create positive opportunities, working in partnership with each village, to bring about transformations both economically and socially. The British Polo Day Morocco, hosted by Jnan Amar Polo Club is not only an amazing opportunity to bring all the friends of the Eve Branson Foundation to Marrakech for a fantastic weekend, but also the perfect occasion to raise serious amounts of money for a cause that is very close to my heart.”
Amar Abdelhadi, Founder of Jnan Amar Polo Club adds: “First I would like to thank His Majesty King Mohamed VI for his generous Patronage of the event, I am also grateful to The Royal Moroccan Polo Federation for their continuous support. We are honoured to be working closely again with The Eve Branson Foundation on this prestigious charity event and to be a part of the efforts to raise much needed funds to the women and children of the Atlas mountains. We are also delighted that British Polo Day are our partners this year and pleased to be a part of the British Polo Day global series and to share this platform with some of the most iconic polo grounds in the world. We look forward to welcoming everyone to The Jnan Amar Polo Club Marrakech.”
British Polo Day Morocco takes place on Saturday 19th April 2014 at the Jnan Amar Polo Club, Marrakech.
The event is partnered with Land Rover, Hackett London, Oxford Group Holdings, Royal Salute, Charles Russell, Holland & Holland, The Eve Branson Foundation, Billionaire.com, Philip Treacy London, Global Partnership Family Offices, Zaeem Jamal, Abercrombie & Kent, Justerini & Brooks, Ettinger London, Charbonnel & Walker, D.R Harris & Co, 3rd Home, Taittinger, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Nihiwatu, Virgin Atlantic, Royal Mansour, La Mamounia, Riad El Fenn, Kasbah Tamadot, The Grosvenor Stationary Company, The Cavalry & Guards Club, Pendragon Productions, and Walpole.