Mon 19th Dec 2016England Triumphant in the Arena Westcroft Park Arena International Report
On Saturday 17 December, as part of the Winter Festival of Polo at Westcroft Park Polo Club, England defeated The Rest of the World in a fast and fun game in the Surrey arena. Plenty of people turned up to enjoy a day of polo with a Christmas grotto set up behind the clubhouse offering delicious delights to keep the cockles warm on a rather chilly day. The action in the arena was hot stuff as some of the country’s finest arena players took full advantage of the biggest HPA affiliated arena in the area showing off their speed and skills. England Captain and highest rated arena player, 10 goaler Chris Hyde, opened the scoring and set the tone of the game ending the chukka by taking the lead with a penalty to make 3-2. The second chukka was marred with fouls and whistles and Max Charlton took a yellow card from umpire Howard Smith as The Rest of the World started to fight back. The goals and penalties came streaming in with two-pointers, penalty one’s and Hyde giving a master class in 25yrd penalty shots before the chukka began to flow better. Chris ended the first half of the game taking the ball the length of the arena to equalise the scores on 8-8. The third chukka belonged to The Rest of the World and Johnny Good, who was later given The Polo Magazine Most Valuable player Award, was showing his full potential scoring the goal of the chukka, hitting the ball to goal, missing by a few feet, but picking up the rebound with a nearside under the neck shot to score. The Rest of the World took the lead at the end of the chukka 11-10. At the start of the fourth chukka, the England team, immediately turned up the heat and England sped away in the remaining chukka to win 15-12. Hyde’s attacking play combined well with Charlton’s exceptional back hands – all with the full back up of Ed Morris-Lowe, who really came into his own in the final chukka. The Polo Times Best Playing Pony Award went to Heidi, who is owned by Raph Singh but was played on the day by Max Charlton. In the earlier game of the day between Young Berkshire and Young Surrey, six talented young players zipped around the arena with great gusto and the game ended on an amicable draw of 12-12. However, one player does deserves a special mention, despite being half the height of his teammates; Max Sponer not only scored the equalising goal of the game, but he did it with such accuracy and power that it smacked into the goal from just past the halfway line drawing applause from the crowds. A full report will follow in the February issue. England supported by M Gallery Hotels (23): Ed Morris-Lowe (4), Max Charlton (9) & Chris Hyde (10) The Rest of the World supported by Bentley Surrey(22): Oli Hipwood (7), Johnny Good (8) & Adolfo Casabal (7) The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player: Johnny Good Polo Times Best Playing Pony: Heidi, owned by Raph Singh and played by Max Charlton Young Berkshire (-1): Alana Horswell (-1), Chloe Horswell (-1) & James Crossley (1) Young Surrey (1): Max Sponer (-1), Harry Hutchins (1) & Eric Appen (1) Most Valuable Player: Max Sponer Photograph: Winners England and The Rest of the World. By Gillian Hughes
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