6 minute read
A Round-Up of Military Polo
by Edit
Royal Air Force Polo Association Sponsors Day
Saturday 18 June saw RAF Polo join forces with August and Masraf London hosting a Sponsors Day at Ham Polo Club to raise funds to develop the skills of the next generation of RAF polo players. After a drinks reception and three course lunch, the polo match got underway between the RAF team, sponsored by Masraf London, and the Ham team, sponsored by August. The teams battled it out over four chukkas; it was nail-bitingly close throughout and the end-to-end action could easily have gone either way. After a great exhibition of polo to an audience that was largely new to the sport, the final score was Masraf RAF 7-6½ to August Ham.
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The Royal Air Force Polo Association are incredibly grateful to Ham Polo Club for being such outstanding hosts and for their continued support to RAF Polo and a huge thank you to their two main sponsors. August offer a professionally managed coownership model for holiday homes www.augustcollection.co.uk Masraf London is a management company offering commercial and financial services in Europe, Middle East, and Africa www.masraflondon.com
Most RAF Polo players do not come from a polo playing background; indeed some have never sat on a horse before trying this sport! If it not for the sporting ethos the RAF upholds, many would never have dreamed of trying polo or have been able to afford it. It is events such as this that help RAF Polo to continue the journey, making polo truly inclusive; accessible to all ages, ranks and job titles. RAF Polo currently have polo playing pilots, engineers, operations managers, medics, logisticians and more, to find out more follow @RAFPoloOfficial on Twitter and Instagram.
Photograph by Corporal Nick Egan Masraf RAF defeated August Ham
Royal Air Force Polo Association Sponsors Day
Masraf Royal Air Force (3): Flight Lieutenant Georgie Harwood (0), Squadron Leader Ellie Hoogewerf (0),Wing Commander Ed Whitechurch (0) & Matt Thake (3) August Ham Polo (2): Mark Hallam (-1), Mark Sheldon (0), Lucy Dowie (1) & Manuel Perez (2)
Inter Regimental Polo
The United Services Cup teams, US Military & Armed Forces Polo
The Queen’s Royal Hussars have proved best at Inter Regimental Polo for the second year in succession. This year they overwhelmed The Royal Air Force 8-1½ at Guards Polo Club to win the oldest polo trophy still played for in the UK.
The Hussars team delivered strong play throughout all four chukkas and some excellent team-work ensured they were 4-1½ up at half-time. Brigadier Nick Cowley, the youngest Brigadier in the British Army, was always in the right place to push the Hussars team forward and some great runs from Capt Henry Amor ensured the Army team were in control from the first whistle. Such four-man play resulted in Capt Jamie Fry receiving the magnificent trophy, which was first played for in 1871, from Air Commodore Tim Brown, Director of the Armed Forces Polo Association.
The final score however does not do justice to the RAF team, who were making their debut in this Inter Regimental final. Officer Cadet Jonathan Perry, who was playing his own ponies, worked tirelessly under a scorching sun to keep the Air Force team in contention and all four RAF players continued to battle until the final whistle. Sadly luck was not on their side on Sunday on The Duke’s Ground. The RAF players did not go home empty handed though as the Pringle Cup, originally donated by Major Jack Pringle of the 8th Hussars who dedicated his life to military polo after serving in the Second World War, was presented to the RAF’s Wing Commander Ed Whitechurch.
Rhett Wooldridge Sandy & Mike Warren, Ross Byrne Bridie Courtney Morgan
Paul Sweeney Memorial Final; Ash Farm Polo Club; Sunday 20 February Record Breaking Final’s Day
The Inter Regimental Polo Teams, The Queens Royal Hussars & The RAF
The other trophy of this game was Hussars’ Lt The Hon William Cecil. Although the Forbes-Cockell Award, for the unique he had a stand-out game, including scoring moment of the match. Played in memory of the final goal of the match, the Lieutenant’s Major Iain Forbes-Cockell, his daughters, unceremonious bucking off in front of the Annabel and Emma, presented the prize, grandstand in the first 30 seconds of the donated by La Martina. It went to the match won him this trophy!
Earlier in the day a visiting US Military Team won The United Services Cup, played as part of the three-match Chapple Cup Series. Their opponents, the Armed Forces Polo Association might have lost the day at Guards Polo Club, but they won the Series, 2-1. The Paul Sweeney Memorial was founded by Lesley, Charlotte and Georgia Sweeney in memory of Paul Sweeney after his unexpected death in 2009 at just 48-years-old in order to keep his spirit and legacy alive. Each year, the tournament attracts a number of players and spectators, gathering at Ash Farm Polo Club to cheer Pete & George Woodward on the finalists. This year saw a record number of teams and after a two-year postponement due to Covid-19, the grandstands were packed. Twelve Oaks managed to stave off a last-minute attempt by Rosina to claim the title and took a 14-12 victory. Photography by Antonia Bullrich
Charlie Simpson & Jade Louise Wheeler
The Inter Regimental Polo Teams: The Queen’s Royal Hussars (3):
Brigadier Nick Cowley (0), Lt The Hon William Cecil (0), Capt Jamie Fry (1) & Capt Henry Armor (2)
The Royal Air Force (1):
Squadron Leader Ellie Hoogewerth (0), Wing Commander Vicky Woodhead (0), Officer Cadet Jonathan Perry (1) & Wing Commander Ed Whitechurch (0)
The United Services Cup Teams:
US Military (2): Capt Byles (0), Lt Col Peterson (0), Petty Officer Jenkins (1) & Private Coleman (1)
Armed Forces Polo Association (1):
Commander Dean Bassett RN (0), Georgia Sweeney & Gemma Byrne Surgeon Commander Harry Rourke RNR (0), Major William Mawby RY (0) & Lt Hector Fair KRH (1)
CPPC vs AFPA
On Saturday 25 June CPPC went head to head with the UK Armed Forces Polo Association (AFPA) at Cirencester Park Polo Club. In the end, CPPC took the win, 6-4, with The ‘Flagon’ presented by Sir Francis Richards (President of the Gloucestershire SSAFA)
Frankie & Alex Antony Olivia Whittle & Lisa Knight
CPPC vs AFPA Teams:
CPPC (1): Louisa Godwin (-1), William Tobin (0), Caspar West (1) & Mark Hayden-Kellard (1) Armed Forces Polo Association (1): Sqn Ldr Ellie Hoogewerf (0), Wg Cdr Ed Whitechurch (0), Harry Applegate, Anton Nymans, Charlie Graham, Maj William Mawby (0) & Lt Hector Fair (1)Issy Litvak & Issy Langrish
Jemima Wilson & Graham Wooldridge Issy Litvak & Libby Connaughton
Mary Kelly
CPPC defeated AFPA, 6-4 in The Flagon
Sophie Morrison
Team Tristar (UK) Ltd
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