A Round-Up of Women’s Polo

WIP Ladies at Beaufort

The last of the August sunshine shone for the Beaufort Women in Polo (WIP) Ladies League 8 Goal held over the Bank Holiday weekend. Smiths Polo faced Supernova for the Final of the WIP Ladies 8 Goal. Karina Brown put the first goal up for Supernova, followed by a penalty sent through by Sarah Hughes to make it 2-0. Smiths claimed a penalty of their own to conclude the first chukka, 2-1. In the second, Hughes made it 3-1 with another penalty, with Brown extending the lead 4-1 in the third. Smiths managed to sneak past the Supernova defences to make it 4-2, leaving the fourth chukka to be the decider. Neither team were able to break the other’s defences and the game ended 4-2 in favour of Supernova. Claire Brougham’s Boogie was named the Best Playing Pony.

In the Subsidiary Final Round Robin, Greylands took on Silverwood and the match concluded with a 4½-1 score. Silverwood then took on Rex Homes, where Lucy Coddington ensured her team a strong win 5½-2. In the final round, Rex Homes battled it out against Greylands, the ladies in the striking yellow shirts stormed ahead in the second, with Kate Parker concluding the match 4-1. The tournament began after days of persistent rain and the players endured chilly playing conditions. By the time the day of the Final arrived on Sunday 13 September there was much fairer weather to be enjoyed by all. The Final was played between Ice lolly’s and Cross Country Medical and the first chukka was without goals, as both teams fought hard for possession. The second chukka saw Ice Lolly’s pull ahead with three consecutive goals. A penalty by Rosanna Turk in the third chukka, followed by a field goal a second before the final bell, brought XC Medical within a nose of the opposition. With it all to play for in the fourth chukka, both teams fought for possession, but it was the Ice Lolly’s who didn’t melt under pressure and concluded the game 5-2. Prizes were very kindly provided by Jen Winnett Art, a local watercolour artist specialising in eco-friendly products. CT Consulting WIP Final Women in Polo’s 2020 League rounded up with The CT Consulting Ladies WIP 8-12 Goal Tournament at Aspect Knepp Castle Polo Club. Six teams entered the tournament which was played over 25 – 27 September, with the Final played between Rex Homes and Unleash Hell. Unleash Hell were the eventual winners with a score of 7-5, with Kitty, played by Lucy Bowman, named as the Best Playing Pony, while in the Subsidiary Final HK Polo defeated Aspect Polo 4-2.

The CT Consulting Ladies WIP 8-12 Goal Final Teams:

Rex Homes (12): Clare Hocking (1), Milly Hughes (2), Sam Buckles (3) & Lucy Taylor (6) Unleash Hell (12): Julie Briffaut (0), Holly Gatsby (1), Lucy Bowman (4) & Sarah Wiseman (7)

Supernova, winners of Beaufort Women in Polo Ladies League 8 Goal

WIP Ladies 8 Goal Final Teams:

Supernova (8): Izzy Playne (0), Millie Hughes (2), Karina Brown (2) & Sarah Hughes (4) Smiths Polo (8): Bel McLaughlin (0), Ida Thor (1), Lisa Smith (2)

Beaufort Ladies 12 Goal

Ice Lolly’s, winners of the Beaufort Ladies 12 Goal

& Claire Brougham (5)

Photograph courtesy of WIP Kitty, the Best Playing Pony

Trippetts Lady Players Celebrate 8 Goal Victories

Louisa Watt and Clare Milford Haven celebrated winning both their Cowdray 8 goal tournaments at the Trippetts End of Season asado.

Louisa, with her Farrington Polo Team won the much coveted Victor Ludorum Holden White Cup 8½-4 against Innovent. Louisa, who, until recently, was only playing polo as a weekend hobby, was amazed that her team even made it to the final, “We were definitely the underdogs, being only a 7 goal team and this was our first 8 goal tournament. I decided at the last minute to go for it given that Covid-19 had impacted the low goal season and we were just keen to get out and play. It was a very special moment to lift that great Holden White Cup with Ed Banner-Eve who played a blinder. So too did teammates Evan Power and Josh Cork. Those boys all played their hearts out and I am immensely proud!”

Clare, with her team newly sponsored by global insurance firm Gallagher, was equally over-the-moon about her team’s 6-3 win against Hickstead in the Brecknock Cup Final, “Because of this year’s strange circumstances, everything was very last minute, so winning the Brecknock was such a wonderful surprise and great result for Gallagher’s first year as our sponsor. Gallagher have been fantastically supportive of myself and the team with them pledging their commitment despite a season being played behind closed doors. I am so appreciative of the help they have given and it has been such a privilege to be able to field a competitive team this year. Every game was very intense and close. The combined experience of Bauti and Fabio plus the cool head and commitment of up and coming polo star Will, gave us a great foundation to succeed.”

Louisa Watt & Clare Milford Haven with The Holden White & Brecknock Cups at Trippetts

Photograph courtesy of Clare Milford Haven

Rutland’s Cordoba Cup

Over 19 – 20 September, the last weekend of beautiful Autumn warmth and sunshine at Rutland Polo Club saw six teams poised and ready for the start of the WIP weekend, with four teams competing in the 8 goal. After some competitive matches on the Saturday, Sunday started with the Subsidiary Final for The Ranksboro Cup between underdogs Pink Ibis and ‘Not Fast, Just Furious’; With fast and flowing polo, things looked evenly matched to start with, but by half way through the incredibly consistent hit-ins taken by SJ McEwan, and the overall great team work of Pink Ibis proved them to be anything but the underdogs. Becx Whitefield’s very strong play on the man was able to keep Jayna and Alice under control, meaning Pippa and Amy could work really well in attack.

Hard fought right down to the wire, but Pink Ibis couldn’t be defeated. The Ladies were awarded for their efforts with lovely prizes of base layers donated by the Women in Polo league, JD Sollis belts, Krono Polo elbow pads and vouchers, Wheelcraft UK goody bags and flowers. They also had a takeaway Champagne tea box to quench their thirst.

The Final of the Cordoba Cup started fast, with Tribal straight into attack, with several strong attacks on goal by Kate Cook, luckily for Los Cambios quite a few of these went just wide. Los Cambios’ Vicky Griffin and Francesca Smith proved their knowledge of each other’s play, and capitalised on this at hit-ins and penalties moving the ball as far up the field as they could with the support of team mates Eleanor Neyroud and Camilla Speed and soon manged to turn that work into a goal, meaning they were level pegging with Tribal at half time 1-1. Then an unfortunate infringement led to a very convincing penalty scored by Charlene to nudge Tribal into the lead, this was soon answered by Francesca Smith scoring a very smooth penalty 2.

With Jess and Amber working hard within team Tribal the Silver Leys ladies slotted in another to put them up 4 goals to 2. Not to be deterred Los Cambios fought back with Eleanor key in scoring the third goal for them. Hard and fast play by both sides continued with Tribal’s Kate Cook making a break for goal in the dying seconds, just beaten by the hooter but they still ran out the winners 4 goals to three. With thanks also to the umpires Andrew Collie and Henry Browne. Kate Cook was named Most Valuable Player and Vicky Griffin’s mare was awarded the Best Playing Pony prize.

The Tribal ladies won a myriad of prizes including sterling silver necklaces donated by Heidi Kjeldsen, WIP base layers and t-shirts, plus much more!

The Cordoba Cup Final Teams:

Los Cambios (8): Eleanor Neyroud (1), Camilla Speed (0), Francesca Smith (3) & Vicky Griffin (4) Tribal (8): Amber Zakrzewski (1), Jess Hawes (1), Kate Cook (3) & Charlene Goudkuil (3)

The Cordoba Cup Subsidiary Final Teams for The Ranksboro Cup:

Pink Ibis (6): SJ. McEwan (1), Becx. Whitefield (1), Pippa Outtridge (1) & Amy Leggett (3) Not Fast, Just Furious (8): Erin Tufnell (1), Lauren Widman (1), Jayna Henderson (3) & Alice Hockin (3)

Photograph by Nico Morgan The competition over the weekend was fierce

The Escalina Trophy

On Saturday 19 September, the day started with the first of two 0-4 goal matches played between the two local teams of Axholme and Parkgate Polo. It saw the debut of a couple of players’ first foray into ladies polo, the youngest of these being Jasmine Speed aged 10-yearsold. As a three a side match across three chukkas it meant there was a lot of work to be done by every team member on the field. With the great team play between Sofie, Claire and Liz, Axholme had to work hard to turn defence into attack in the first chukka as both teams scored two goals each. However, Axholme started to prove the stronger as Leslie Maxfield Gullett got into her stride, scoring 3 of the 5½ goal final tally, which meant at the final hooter the score was 5½-2 to Axholme.

Both teams met again the following day, Sunday 20 September, albeit with a slightly different line up on day two, which saw Jasmine Speed play a chukka for each team!

Great team play again from the Parkgate Ladies saw them come out storming, with Sofie Hopkins on her speedy ponies, and Liz Early on Sunday 20 September, before the mixed French Open Final, Maison Décale and DS Automobile DS Store St Maximin took to the field at Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly for the Final of the Open de France Feminin. Going into the Final, Maison Décale were the favourites as their line-up featured the three Vernot sisters, Pearl, Lucie and Elenea, alongside Caroline Anier, but DS Automobile DS Store St Maximin were not phased and put up a strong resistance. Following their heavy defeat in the qualification stages, Lia Salvo (top goal scorer of the tournament with 12 goals in four matches) organised a new, more defensive strategy, which allowed DS Automobile DS Store St Maximin to lead for two chukkas. However, a myriad of fouls towards the end of the match saw Salvo’s team lose their advantage and Maison Décale ran out the winners with a final score of 6-4½. Becana, owned by Margaux Perruchot and played by Lia Salvo was the Best Playing Pony, Margaux Perruchot was the Most Valuable Amateur Player and Claire proving how well they could read each other and providing fabulous support to one another. Claire’s grey pony Bertie also proved quite the footballer, regularly kicking the ball towards their goal.

With a lovely, fun game of polo, Axholme proved to be the stronger once again after a couple of great runs from Hollie Sumner and yet more goals from Leslie Maxfield Gullett, meaning Axholme ran out the winners 5½ goals to 2 and took home The Escalina Cup. The ladies won an assortment of kindly donated prizes from JD sollis belts, Krono polo, Bat and Bottle, Oakham, Wheelcraft Uk and some flowers each, which were also followed up with individual Champagne tea boxes. A Most Valuable Player was awarded from each team as well and an overall MVP, with each winner receiving a myriad of prizes: MVP from Axholme was Hollie Sumner, MVP from Parkgate Polo was Claire Durrant and overall MVP was Sofie Hopkins.

The Best Playing Pony was Claire Durrant’s Bertie who revieved a BPP rug and Elena Vernot was the Most Valuable Professional Player.

Open de France Feminin Final Teams:

Maison Décale (16): Pearl Venot (3), Lucie Venot (3), Elena Venot (6) & Caroline Anier (4)

DS Automobile DS Store St Maximin (15):

Pauline Schaer (1), Margaux Perruchot (2), Adèle Renauldon (3) & Lia Salvo (9)

Photograph by Nico Morgan Action from The Escalina Trophy

from Wheelcraft UK and a horse massage from GH therapies.

Rutland 0-4 Goal Escalina Cup Teams:

Axholme (0): Jasmine Speed/ Hollie Sumner (0), Lesley Maxfield Gullett (0) & Camilla Speed (0) Parkgate Polo (1): Liz Penson/ Jasmine Speed (0), Claire Durrant (1)

Women’s French Open Final

& Sofie Hopkins (0)

Photography by Justine Jacquemot Maison Décale, winners of the Open de France Feminin

Cheshire WIP

Photograph courtesy of WIP Rex Homes won both sections of the WIP League at Cheshire Polo Club

Over the weekend of 6 September, Cheshire Polo Club hosted their stage of the 2020 WIP League, which Rex Homes won at both the 0-8 goal and 8-12 goal levels. Nicola Hodges’ Nymph was the Best Playing Pony and Sam Buckles was the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, while the Best Cheshire Playing Member was Annabelle Kelly who received the Mu Kershaw Memorial Cup.

Women’s Pacific Coast Open The 2020 Women’s Pacific Coast Open began on Friday 4 September at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club with four teams competing in the tournament; wins in Friday’s Semi Final for La Herradura and Timing saw them face each other in Sunday’s Final, with La Herradura securing a 7-4 win.

Women’s Pacific Coast Open Teams:

La Herradura (17): Suzette Yamani (0), Meghan Gracida (3), Izzy Parsons (8) & Dayelle Faregy (6) Timing (18): Nicole Ball (1), Mia Bray (5), Sofia Lorenzo (5) & Mia Novillo Astrada (7) Dundas (18): Sarah Magness (2), Sophie Grant (4), Erica Gandomcar (5) & Hope Arellano (7) PoloGear Coffee Company (18): Dawn Jones (6), Kendall Plank (4), Cory Williams (4) & Pamela Flanagan (4)