Audi Polo Challenge in Ascot

Posted on 07/09/2007 under: News, Audi

On 7 July, the historical Coworth Park Polo Club in Ascot again played host to a sports event in a class of its own. For the second time, Prince William captained his team against a side fielded by AUDI AG’s British importer, Audi UK, whose high-calibre players are members of the English national team. With a final score of 3 : 2.5, Prince William’s team was the winner of the match again. Prince William stepped into his father’s shoes last year and immediately made his mark in leading his team to a convincing win.

Since it was first played five years ago, the royal match has become a highlight of the British polo season. This year too, numerous celebrities and customers accepted Audi’s invitation to attend. Among the prominent spectators were Natasha Bedingfield, Jimmy Choo and Pierce Brosnan. After the one-hour game and subsequent prize ceremony, the guests celebrated well into the night. Musical entertainment was provided by top violinist Linzi Stoppard and Rick Parfitt Jr., son of the legendary Status Quo guitarist and himself a rock musician through and through. All the proceeds from the Audi Polo Challenge are traditionally donated to charities chosen by Prince William each year. In 2007, the receipts benefit the three foundations Mountain Rescue, Give Them A Sporting Chance and Household Cavalry Operational Casualties Fund.

Audi supports many social welfare projects and views its activities in this area as an essential component of its corporate culture. Since 1977, the annual Christmas appeal, which was set up by the Works Council, has given support to local welfare organisations, while AUDI AG’s involvement in the Education through Sports programme run by the Ayrton Senna Institute has been helping needy children in Brazil since 1999. For the last five years, the company has also supported the Elton John AIDS Foundation as a sponsor to the Oscar Viewing Party auction and the “White Tie & Tiara Ball” charity event. For these events, Elton John invites guests to his villa in Windsor, where he auctions luxury goods with a rarity value, the combined proceeds of the auction benefiting his Foundation.

Audi UK is now the British car industry’s foremost sponsor in the world of polo. Indeed, polo – powerful, elegant and sporty – embodies those attributes that also describe the Audi brand perfectly. Besides the Audi Polo Challenge, Audi UK organises the royal match and the renowned Gold Cup. The importer has furthermore sponsored the English national polo team since April 2005.

Source: Audi