Over 600 guests basked in the sunshine and helped raise £50,000 at the St. James’s Place Polo Day for the company’s charitable foundation last Saturday. Held at the Beaufort Polo Club, guests were treated to a Champagne reception and gourmet lunch before taking their seats in the stands to watch some of the country’s best polo players in action.
A lively crowd cheered on the all-ladies Diamonds International team including Nina Clarkin, Lucy Taylor and Emma and Claire Tomlinson narrowly losing 6 – 5 ½ to Jot-K in the subsidiary final of the Cirencester Park Spring Cup. Mike Wilson, Chairman of St. James’s Place then presented the prizes to the two teams and officials.
The day raised a staggering £50,000 for the Foundation with over £10,000 raised in the post-lunch auction, which incorporated some spectacular lots including a Montblanc pen, a morning on the gallops and champagne breakfast with leading trainer Alan King and a week on the luxury private yacht, Dabulamanzi.
The proceeds will go to the St. James’s Place Foundation, which issues grants to a number of local, national and international charities that either benefit disadvantaged children or hospice organisations.
Chairman of the Beaufort Polo Club, Simon Tomlinson was thrilled with the way the day had gone. “This is our flagship charity day and we are extremely grateful to St. James’s Place for their generous sponsorship of this day. We couldn’t have asked for better weather and I think the crowd certainly seemed to enjoy themselves.”
