£55,000 RAISED AT THE ST. JAMES’S PLACE CHARITY POLO DAY

Over 500 guests helped raise over £55,000 at the St. James’s Place Polo Day for the company’s charitable foundation last Saturday. A donation will also be made to the Gloucestershire flood victims. 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-professional Apes Hill team including Emma Tomlinson and Jacinto Crotto fight back from 5-1 down, to lose 8-7 to Richard Britten-Long’s Laird team in a highly charged contest. Mike Wilson, Chairman of St. James’s Place then presented the prizes to the two teams and officials.

The day raised a staggering £55,000 for the charity with over £25,000 raised in the lunch auction, which incorporated some spectacular lots including a four-night stay for two people in a Pavilion at Amanjena, Marrakech courtesy of Abercrombie & Kent and a week on the luxury private yacht, Dabulamanzi.

The proceeds will go to the St. James’s Place Foundation who issue grants to UK registered charities with an annual income of less than £400,000 whose aims are young people in the UK who suffer from physical or mental health difficulties or conditions. The Foundation also supports the Hospice movement.

Chairman of the Beaufort Polo Club Simon Tomlinson was thrilled with the way the day had gone. “We are extremely grateful to St. James’s Place for their generous sponsorship of this day as well as the fantastic auction prizes that have been donated. The crowd certainly seemed to have enjoyed themselves and were very vocal in their support for the teams which all adds to the atmosphere.”

ENDS