Women’s Polo
FIP Women’s European Championships
Italy Snatch Half Goal Win FIP Women’s European Championships Nina Clarkin Reports
T
eam England and their ponies pulled up to La Mimosa Polo Club late Sunday night after a long journey with many COVID related border delays and started their preparations for the third FIP Women’s European Championships. First up for the English team was Team Ireland who came out all guns blazing and really threw down the gauntlet and put England on the defensive from the start. England rallied well and after half time, stemmed the Irish flow and the final score of 7½-3 did not reflect the hard work and effort that England put in. There were many missed opportunities and England struggled to convert their frequent runs to goal. A disappointed England crew were treated to supper at the Team hotel by Nick Moffat, team sponsor and owner
of Moorgate Capital, and the team enjoyed delicious homemade pasta, some questionable fizzy rose (not the players!), and the best banana cake anyone had ever eaten.” An early start on day two to prep the ponies was followed by a breakfast meeting to watch videos and talk tactics surrounded by the resident owl, a gaggle of geese, two parrots and a blackbird. England were up against Italy and came out firing on all cylinders. Italy started with a 2½ goal lead but England had quashed that lead within the first three minutes and were 2½-2 by the end of the first chukka. The format for this tournament is six 4½ minute chukkas and England looked set to dominate throughout. Unfortunately for the Italians Constanza Marchiorello fell and broke her ankle at the end of the third chukka and she was taken to hospital and a replacement was found. After an hour’s delay and a long wait for another ambulance, England re-took to the field with a 4-3½ lead but slightly struggled to find their previous form. The lead bounced between the countries with England
trailing by ½ a goal with a minute to go. A fantastic near side backhand by Emma Wood found Heloise Wilson-Smith who roared to goal. The Italians fought her and hooked Heloise before she could convert but Milly Hughes was in the perfect position to score the goal and take England into the lead, moments before the final bell struck. England looked to have found their form but now faced Germany in the Semi Final who were fantastic in their game against Ireland. Day three, England were treated to a trip to Milan where they took in the sights and enjoyed a trip to the fashion hub, which is the centre of Milan fashion week, and they met some designers and were treated to tours of their collections. After this they had a delicious lunch in Milan and went to the Duomo for a team photo shoot in the most spectacular surroundings. The team then partook in a local tradition which involved standing on a mosaic of a bull, specifically his testicles with their heels, and spinning three times for good luck before heading home for some R and R at the hotel. Day four saw England up against Germany in the Semi Final and they once again came out in fighting form and took an early lead of 3-0. The German team played well but could not convert their penalties and this allowed England to dominate the game and they fought off a last minute comeback by the Germans to win 4-2. Fran Townsend played a blinder and marked her man well out of the match and made some crucial passes.
Italy clinched the win by half a goal
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Polo Times, October 2021
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