Mon 10th Aug 2015Thrilling matches at The El Remanso Pony Club and The HPA British Junior Polo ChampionshipsWell-deserved victories for superstars in the making
The El Remanso Pony Club Polo Championships, supported by Thai Polo and The Hurlingham Polo Association, took place at Cowdray Park Polo Club and Hurtwood Park Polo Club this weekend, with fantastic play by all proving that Pony Club Polo remains the best base for young players. Testament to this is this year's England squads, who all have their roots in The Pony Club. Thrilling Finals in all sections saw the culmination of the year's hard work, with members of The Pony Club displaying, as always, impeccably high standards of skill and sportsmanship all with buckets of enthusiasm. Nowhere was this more prevalent than in the Final of The Gannon Trophy, the highest level Pony Club Polo has to offer. Four hard fought chukkas between the Cotswold and the Old Surrey & Burstow Blue branches of The Pony Club, saw the Cotswold team ride out the winners to take The Daily Telegraph Trophy. The team of Jack Severn, Oscar Luard, Ollie Severn and Tommy Severn comprised three brothers and a cousin, and it was their superior teamwork that gave them the slightest of edges against a strong Old Surrey & Burstow team. Their rivals, a tight foursome of Katie Bernard, Harry Hickmet, Sebastian Pudney and, winner of The SATS Saddle for the Player of the Year, Cody Jones pushed them to their very limits in a Final that was watched by all on the edge of their seats. This year The Frank Rendell Cup was contested by three teams, and was won by the Vine branch of The Pony Club, with the New Forest and the Heythrop in Runner Up and Third positions. Elsewhere, The Jack Gannon Trophy for the Winners of the Langford Finals this year went to the Heythrop, who triumphed over the Berkeley, with the Grafton and Old Surrey & Burstow in Third and Fourth places. The Loriner Section was well represented, with the Grafton, Winners of Division I, taking home The Loriner Challenge Trophy, after beating Taunton Vale into Second place. In Division II, the Beaufort triumphed, and returned home with The Hillingdon Hall Cup. The Surtees Section comprised eleven teams, the biggest turnout in the competition, with the South Berkshire team topping Division I and the Royal Artillery taking home the prize in Division II. Winning The Cooper Cup and The Surtees II Trophy respectively, these teams showed impressive skills despite their ages, and are the young players to watch out for in the future. Cowdray Gold took home The Handley Cross Cup after an exciting Final, with some of the loudest support from the crowd of the whole tournament! The Old Surrey & Burstow Pony Club took second place after an excellent match for all. The Jorrocks Finals, held on Wednesday 5 August at Hurtwood Park, also saw some fantastic play from the grassroots of The Pony Club, with the youngest players performing incredibly well despite their age. This division saw Sammy Vincent of the Grafton, and Ruby Hickmet of the Old Surrey & Burstow win Most Improved Player Awards, and the Grafton B with The Texaco Trophy for Turnout. On Thursday 6 and Friday 7 August, Cowdray Park Polo Club also played host to the HPA British Junior Polo Championships. This exciting Championship provides a platform for excelling young players to make the transition from Pony Club Polo to adult, and possibly even professional, polo. This year, the Hipwood Finals for the Smail Trophy saw the Northwood team beat the Beaufort, 7-2½. In the Subsidiary Finals for The Emerson Trophy, Kirtlington were victorious over Dalmahoy 7-2, and in the Sub-Subsidiary Finals for The Daily Mail Trophy, Longdole beat Taunton Vale, 5-2. The last Final saw Beaufort Highlanders winning against Foxcote. In the Finals of the Buckmaster, Emlor Juniors won against El Remanso 8-5½, whilst in the Subsidiary Finals, Oatleys beat the Surrey Union 5-4½. For a full report of the weekend, look out for the September issue of Polo Times! Photograph: Action from the weekend at the Pony Club Championships. By Lucy Wilson. |