There's just something about Ascot

With all the grandeur and luxury of many polo clubs in the UK, Ascot remains quintessentially British: modest and charming. It could be due to the fact that the horses are kept between the marquee and the polo field, so one feels completely immersed in the whole polo atmosphere. However, it could also be that Ascot rivals any club in terms of its welcoming hospitality.

We're not talking canapés and champagne; we're talking real, honest and uninhibited kindness. From the moment I arrived, a glass of wine was thrust into my hands and I was whisked away by the elegant Elisabeth Grace, one half of the founding team, to be introduced to the rest of the Ascot Park Polo Club’s members. Peter Grace, the co-founder, dressed in his umpire’s uniform was chatting excitedly with his daughter Janey and her son, Max, who had both played in an earlier tournament. Once boasting the world’s only all team of sisters, Pippa, Victoria, Katie and Janey Grace are still very much involved in the club and this strong family unity is what makes Ascot so special.

Sitting beside Leah Ludlow, the scoreskeeper, what was to unfold was tense game with a fallen player, fouling and two visits from the ambulance car.

Fernández, the 3 goal handicap player for Team Na Na was first to touch the ball. An imminent battle between Fernandez and Nelson caused the umpire to blow his whistle in the first few minutes. Once restarted, Muriel played a wonderful backhand but it was blocked by Reedhead, the only girl playing for Zephyr. Reedhead ran with the ball and scored the first goal of the match bringing with her a few whistles from the crowd.

Players lined up, Muriel took another easy shot but once again was blocked by Reedhead who lost the ball to Nelson.
A little confusion drew a whistle from the Umpire and a 40yard penalty was taken for Team Na Na by Danny Muriel. It was a corageous swing but a 1/2 a meter too wide and Nelson who recovered the ball was penalised for 'tapping'.

Back to the game and drama commenced as Muriel took a big swing and hit the ball directly into Muriels back. Spectators were silenced as horrors of last years memories when Muriel had been temporarily paralised from a Polo accident were brought to mind.

With a visit from the Medical team, Muriel was given the all clear and the ball was put back into play with an immediate score from Lucas Fernández bringing the score to 1-all.

Nelson picks up. This feisty 2-goal handicap player for Zephyr was driving hard towards the goal with 20 seconds to go in the first Chukka. Hitting hard, Nelson narrowly missed what would have been a great shot and lost the ball to Muriel.

The second Chukka was mostly about Team Na Na who scored 3 goals in total with only 1 for Zephyr. With Muriel and Nelson dominating the action, a whistle was blown and the players tried to deliberate with Umpire Grace who should take the ball. A foul was called in favour of Zephyr and a 40 yard shot was taken by Nelson who scored perfectly bringing the score up to Team Na Na-1 Zephyr-2
Confusion ensued over the ownership of the next goal as Riorden and Tarique fought to keep the ball. However it was the agile Muriel who picked things up by scoring for Team Na Na

Never far away from the action, Nelson picked up alongside Northmore who blocked a pass towards Paul Igoe of Zephyr. Nelson initiated a gesture towards the Umpire and galloped across the pitch for a change of horse. This fresh mount seemed to be what Nelson needed as he and Lucas played ball 'banter' resulting in Nelson narrowly scraping out with the ball in the final few seconds.

It didn't take long before Muriel scored for Team Na Na in the 4th Chukka. With a start on the far side of the pitch, Muriel poised for an immaculate backhand, the ball rolled into the net. It was here that the drama commenced. A shot too corageous for even the most competent player, Nelson took a tumble and was flung off his horse.

The ambulance car was back on the pitch and the horses and riders gathered anxiously to see what the damage was. Almost 5 minutes passed as the crowd watched Nelson writhe in pain, but eventually he calmed down and was given the 'all clear'.

Incredibly, it was the Muriel and Nelson who fought hard at this point, both unsure how far they could push themselves after the on pitch accidents. However it was Tarique and Reedhurst who took matters into their own hands and moved the ball away from these two dominant players. Reedhurst ultimately scoring a goal for Zephyr bringing the points to Team Na Na 4, Zephyr 3.

Kirsty backed up. A decent hit by Tarique left the players of Team Na Na unsure if they would manage to score in this Chukka. Something seemed to be happening between the two players and with Reedhead in such good form, it seemed unfair that such a strong player should have such a low handicap. Northmore had been watching things closely and all of a sudden made his attack on Reedhead. This unexpected move proved vital for Lucas who ran with the ball and scored for Team Na Na.

The whistle was blown by the upmire and a 40 yard penalty was taken by Nelson but the player had sat too far back in his shot and it seemed an unlikely hit. Things took a turn however when unexpectedly, Tarique, as if from nowhere took an angleshot towards the ball and hit it into the goal. When the ball was put back into play, it was Reedhead who had the final touch in the 3rd Chukka. The scores now reading, Team Na Na 5, Zephyr 4.

Reedhead carried through to the 4th Chukka and scored an almost instantaneous goal in the opening seconds but this heroism was halted when Lucas, who had previously been watching Northmores back during the previous Chukka, scored for Team Na Na shortly afterwards.

The final movements were directed by Muriel, Nelson and Reedead, all who fought hard, barely taking notice of potential passes, keeping the ball selfishly in their sights. There was some good play by Nelson Bustamante who tried to direct the ball between Fernández and Muriel but the Umpire blew the whistle and as the match recommenced, Muriel scored for Team Na Na.

More faultless passes between the 19 year old Tarique, and Reedhead proved to much for Team Na Na who could not recover the ball. With a final pass towards Bustamante, a goal was scored for Zephyr, indeed raising the score to 7-6 for Team Na Na but not enough to win Zephyr the Ascot Park Trophy of 2009.

By Isamaya ffrench, LivingPolo UK