The Event
The Duke of Essex Polo Trophy is a unique fusion of entertainment and field sports set amongst the ground of a fine stately home. It is the most exclusive event of the East London and Essex season and as Rod Stewart comments ‘We are lucky to have such a dynamic, glamorous and exciting event in Essex’.
The grounds are split into two areas, there is the VIP Players Marquee (and later in the evening the second marquee, The Duke of Essex’s Private Club) and also the Family Picnic Area. Both areas are designed with entertainment, comfort and glamour in mind – and will offer different types of guest the ultimate polo experience.
The family area
This year the organisers have focused a lot of resources into making the Family Area a really wonderful day out for all ages. There will be a huge array of activities for guests to choose from and The Family Picnic area will offer a huge funfair, face painting, clowns, balloon artists, quad bikes, 4 x 4 trips, clay pigeon shooting, skydivers, helicopter trips, aircraft dogfights, marching bands, Pony Club championships, motorbike displays and much much more. There will be a fully licensed bar selling all alcoholic and soft drinks. There is literally all-day-fun for all ages in the very informal Family Area.
The VIP Area
Guests in the main VIP Players Marquee will start with a champagne and canapés reception which will lead into a gourmet three course luncheon. Following luncheon there will be coffee and petit fours to accompany the celebrity charity auction. Once the VIP guests have enjoyed their lunch, guests will be ushered outside to see the polo match ball being delivered by skydivers, descending onto the pitch from the skies above Essex. This unique signature manoeuvre is renowned across the globe as being utterly unique to the Duke of Essex Trophy and is a spectacle that once witnessed will never be forgotten. The skydivers disembark from a military aircraft before plunging 3,000 feet in seconds prior to a high-altitude canopy opening. Flags and smoke will alert the crowds as to the match ball carrier. Once on the ground the skydivers will salute the crowds before presenting the ball for the throw-in.
The teams will parade onto the field being led by a 40 piece marching band and escorted by vehicles flying the flags of each country.
In the evening
Following the polo prize-giving, there will be two after-Parties hosted in two separate marquees, with live music, celebrity DJ’s and a dance floor needing to be filled!
This year we are launching The Duke's Marquee that will feature live acts, singers and entertainment, lounge style seating and VIP areas for the more discerning clubber. Aimed at the over 30's market. Acts include Kid Creole and the Coconuts, N-Joi, Bell & Spurling and the Ultimate 80's Disco.
The Players Marquee as in previous years will be hosted by Poshfunk and will be transformed into another decadent nightclub offering the finest evenings dancing you will ever have. With a top celebrity DJ line-up, great lighting and special effects plus crazy little twists of normality during the night.
Both Marquees will open only to those people who have bought VIP tickets or evening tickets for either marquee.
Official Charity Partner
The first of our official Duke of Essex Polo charities is Vision. We will be supporting Vision which aims to raise money for the benefit of Blind, Visually Impaired and Dyslexic children. Our donations will aim to maximise the potential of these children and improve the quality of their lives and the lives of their families, teachers and carers.
This year The Duke of Essex Polo Cup is also proud to be working with Jo’s Trust and The Rhys Daniels Trust as our official charity partners. We'll be holding a Charity Auction in the VIP Marquee,with proceeds from the sale of sporting memorabilia, jewellery and money can't buy experiences being donated to the charities.
Jo’s Trust is a UK based registered charity dedicated to help fight Cervical Cancer.
The Rhys Daniels Trust supports major children's hospitals across the UK with the care and well-being of children and their families affected by serious illness.
A History of The Duke of Essex
The title of the Duke of Essex has never been bestowed. However, Essex has long since been home to the landed aristocracy with a line of Earls dating back to 1139 and traceable up to the present day.
The Earl of Essex is a title that has been held by several families and individuals, of which the best-known and most closely associated with the title was Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (1566–1601) He was a military hero and royal favourite of Elizabeth I, but following a poor campaign against Irish rebels during the Nine Years War in 1599, he failed in a coup d'etat against the queen and was executed for treason.
Frederick Paul de Vere Capell, 11th Earl of Essex (born 29 May 1944) is the current Earl of Essex. He succeeded his father Robert Capell, 10th Earl of Essex, in 2005. Born to Robert Capell and his wife Doris, Lord Essex began his life as just Frederick Paul de Vere Capell. His father was a distant cousin to the 9th Earl of Essex. Lord Essex is currently unmarried at age 64. If he dies without a legitimate son, the Earldom will pass to William Jennings Capell, his fourth cousin once removed. William's father, Bladen Horace, was a strong claimant to the heirship of the Earldom, before the 10th Earl proved his superior claim.
The Exhibitors / The Stands
Click on the link below to view the companies that will be exhibiting their products at the Duke of Essex Polo Cup. The stands will be located around the whole event so take time to look around and shop til you drop!
Click here
