Apes Hill Club Barbados, is to fund its namesake team to the tune of more than $2million for 2008.
Representing the Landmark Land Company and Sir Charles’ Apes Hill Club - the luxury development comprising exclusive homes and world class golf, polo and riding facilities overlooking the Caribbean Sea - the team fared well in their first year, winning the Calcot Manor Hotel Cup and providing fierce opposition to Loro Piana who went on to win the coveted Queen’s Cup.
Captain of the team, Luke Tomlinson, says, “A year on, and following intensive training in Argentina, the team has even higher hopes this season as we plan to compete in the two most prestigious tournaments on British pitches; Guards Polo Club’s Hildon Queen’s Cup in June and Cowdray Park’s Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup in July, among others.”
Instigator of the team’s conception, Sir Charles Williams, explains, “I was watching the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup final in 2006 and was so disappointed to see English talent sitting in the stands. Not a single English player made it to the final. I knew then that something should, and could, be done to get more English players playing high goal polo.”
The Landmark Land Company and Apes Hill Club Barbados collaboration thus marks the biggest commercial sponsorship deal for a British team to date.
And, following suit, leading technical clothing manufacturer, La Martina, is to provide a range of branded team wear – for team members and supporters.
“La Martina fits in very well with the ethos of the team as we aim to represent a progressive, top quality, development of which we are very proud”, says Luke, adding, “We hope the support, training and attention our team receives will be a benchmark for other corporate sponsors entering this fabulous and fast-paced sport.”
Joining Luke at Apes Hill Club Barbados’s British base at Beaufort Polo Club will be his brother, fellow seven-goal player, Mark, as well as the five-goal player, Tom Morley and three-goal player Ed Hitchman.
The quartet, regarded as the best of British talent, will sport La Martina clothing including a technical team shirt that is designed to keep them cool no matter how hot the competition.
