Women’s Polo
International
UK
Winning Women Lucy Wilson reports from the annual Women’s National Arena Championships
Photography by NND Photography & Graham Morrison
The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Saskia Meadows with Robert Burke
3-4 goal winners Clarita in their pink shirts with runners-up Mrs B’s
THE LARGEST WOMEN’S tournament in the winter arena calendar was played in the midst of the new women’s handicap debate, on 21 and 22 February at Ascot Polo Club. Driving rain, snow, sunshine and hailstorms didn’t put a dampener on a fantastic display of all-female competition from both professionals and patrons alike. The top level (3-4 goal) Final was played between Clarita (Saskia Matthias (-1), Saskia Meadows (1) and Rosie Ross (3)) and Mrs B’s (Maxine Betteridge (0), Georgia Sweeney (1) and Charlotte Sweeney (3)). Clarita may have run out the winners with a final score of 21-10, but it was by no means a reflection of the game, which was far more exciting than the scoreline suggested. Clarita started with a twogoal advantage on the scoreboard and at the end of the first chukka were up 9-1. By half-time, the score was 12-4 with Mrs B’s finally having made a mark, but in the third, the gap widened yet further to 18-7. Sadly for the Sweeney-Betteridge line-up, they couldn’t make up the lost ground and were defeated by an 11-goal margin. Saskia Meadows, who also played in and reached the Final of The HPA New Year National Club Championships at the Royal County of Berkshire in an all-ladies line-up, was awarded The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award. She managed to open the scoring 60
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with the first goal of the game for Clarita, but spent the remainder of the game defensively riding off the opposition giving her teammates the chance to score. Rosie Ross’ Bush Pig was awarded the Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award. Turn to page 76 to read more about Rosie’s pony. There wasn’t an easy route to the Final of the 2 goal section; Adrenalin Polo (Heather Winsor (0), Georgie French (0) and Georgiana Crofton (2)) were in the last game of the day in the qualifying rounds on Saturday, which ended in a twilight penalty shootout – twice over! After two lots of nail-biting penalties, Adrenalin Polo went through to the Final to face Moor Hall Farm, leaving Alegria in the Subsidiary. Despite Adrenalin Polo’s tenacious battle to make the Final, they were defeated by Moor Hall Farm (Alex Edwards (-1), Francesca Smith (0) and Charlotte Sweeney (3)), 13-9. Alex Edwards was awarded The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award. Alegria (Tatiana Menshenina (-1), Laura Plant (1) and Claire Maldonado (2)) defeated Las Aguilas (Sophie Granchi (0), Lucy Bowman (1) and Charley Howell (1)) in the Subsidiary Final with a score of 14-10. In the 0-1 goal section, Berkshire Vehicle Sales (Yasmin Tatlah (0), Genevieve Meadows (0) and Charley Howell (1)) won their Final,
despite having to contend with the worst weather of the day. Their opposition, Paradise Farm (Honor Horswell (-1), Christobel Horswell (-1) and Lolly Stanhope-White (2)) lost the tense match, 12 goals to 10. The scores had been 6-6 at half-time with Paradise Farm edging forward with a one goal lead and a score of 9-8 at the end of the third. The final chukka was neck-and-neck, until Genevieve scored a two-pointer to make a winning 12-10 score for Berkshire Vehicle Sales. She was later awarded The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player prize. In the Subsidiary Final of the 0-1 goal, Salesforce (Sophie Morrison (-1), Jemma Bryne (1) and Sarah Hotston (0)) pipped Women In Polo (Heloise Wilson-Smith (2), Georgie Wood (0) and Claire Graham (-1)) to the posts with a final score of 11-9. Ascot Park will look to host the 27th UK National Women’s Tournament once again this summer. The event is currently scheduled for 4 and 5 July with levels ranging from -6 to 2 goal. However, with the introduction of the women’s handicapping system, the tournament may adopt new levels.
Genevieve Meadows and Lolly Stanhope-White in the 0-1 goal Final
www.polotimes.co.uk
26/03/2015 16:12