Your Club News from Home and Abroad
Audi Polo Challenge
Great turnout at Toulston
Photograph courtesy of Audi Polo Challenge
HRH THE DUKE of Cambridge was a key member in the Audi Ultra polo team on Friday 3 July at the Audi Polo Challenge. 2015 heralded the first year Cambridge County Polo club hosted the event, which was attended by a host of celebrities such as Eddie Redmayne and Clive Owen. The Duke of Cambridge lined-up alongside Ben Vestey, as well as Malcolm Borwick and American HRH The Duke of Cambridge and Tamara Fox in action Tommy Kato, whilst the opposing Audi Quattro line-up featured Rob Archibald, one of Australia’s leading players and Nikolai Bahlsen and ladies’ polo teammates, Tamara Fox and Emma Wood. Following four chukkas of fast-paced polo, the scoreboard read an even 6-6 and on this occasion all eight players decided to call it a ‘gentlemanly draw’. Audi have been involved with the Princes and their charity work for more than a decade. This particular event raised money for Skillforce and the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust, two charities to which HRH The Duke of Cambridge is Patron. For social pictures of the event, please turn to our Sidelines section.
THE OGDEN SILVER Jubilee Polo Tournament was hosted by Toulston Polo Club in front of a 600 spectator strong crowd, on 4 – 5 July. Red Devils parachuted in to great applause on the Finals day, as six teams battled it out over three days of matches. The Final was played between Welland Valley and Beverley Polo Club, with Beverley crowned the winners following a penalty after going into a fifth chukka. All funds raised went to The Children’s Society.
Photograph by Rachel Clark/www.sweetandsalt.co.uk
Square Pegs at Sussex
Club Focus
Ogden Silver Jubilee Polo Tournament teams: Welland Valley: Milo Manton (0), Richard Clark (1), James van Oppen (1), Hugo Suarez (2) Beverley Polo Club: Abby Foreman (0), Ben Foreman (0), Ashley Foreman (1), Christian Chaves (3)
Beverley Polo Club with The Silver Jubillee Plate
Photograph by Sallie-Ann Lent
FIP heads to Azerbaijan PLANS ARE NOW in full swing for the Grass Arena Polo World Cup, Baku. The Azerbaijan tournament will be taking place from 4 – 12 September 2015, under the direction of Reto Gaudenzi in partnership with the Equestrian Federation of Azerbaijan Republic (ARAF) and the Elite Horse and Polo Club, Bina. Six teams with 6-8 goal handicaps from Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and a local team from Azerbaijan will battle it out for the title of the 1st FIP Arena Polo European Championship, Azerbaijan.
JULY KICKED OFF at Sussex Polo Club on the weekend 4 – 5 July with The Square Peg Polo Challenge Trophy in aid of St Catherine’s Hospice and sponsored by Moving On. On Finals’ day, Sunday 5 July, the British Tent Pegging Team held a demonstration prior to the start of the games. The tense -2 goal Final was between Square Peg and Blackstone Gate Farm. Black Stone Farm under the superb direction of Ben Sim, who was later awarded The Best Professional Player Prize, played fantastically well. However it was Square Peg who were crowned the winners for the Square Peg Challenge Claymore Trophy. The 2 goal Final followed with La Ballena playing against Sussex Polo. Patrons Kwan Lo and Zoe Bucknell of La Ballena started the game on fire, scoring two goals in the first two minutes, followed by an incredible shot to goal from the centre of the field by Tristan Wade on Best Playing Pony Pirate. Despite some incredible plays from Sussex Polo’s Terence Lent and Telmo Maidana, Sussex couldn’t catch up with La Ballena’s goal scoring streak leaving the final score at 10-6. St Catherine’s Hospice managed to raise hundreds of pounds for the charity. Lana Piele from St Catherine’s Hospice said after the game, “We are so grateful to Sussex Polo and Doug Ross and the Square Peg team for raising money for this important charity. A wonderful weekend!” www.polotimes.co.uk
Photograph by World Polo
Las Ballenas won The Square Peg Trophy
Action from the 2014 Arena Polo World Cup
Polo Times, August 2015
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