UK National Womens Tournament, Ascot Park Polo Club

Now in its 21st year, the UK National Women's Polo Tournament is the largest and longest established women's event in the polo calendar. Sunday 2nd August was a scorcher: blue skies and ice-creams aplenty in the beautiful grounds of Ascot Park Polo Club, Surrey.

There was a wonderfully friendly atmosphere at Ascot Polo Park today. The club’s founders and owners, the Grace family, who pride themselves on a community ethos, were constantly in attendance during the tournament. Pippa Grace, founder of the International Women's Polo Association, hosted the day’s events and presented the awards, her sister Victoria was ever present, and Janey played with the Los Diablos Rojo team. Although undeniably busy, each took the time to talk about Ascot Park Polo Club, and Cathy Vivian, the clubs manager, spoke at length about its horses and the community within the club. Such a warm reception would make any polo enthusiast want to be a part of the club.

The day’s events kicked off at 9:30 sharp with a game played by the glamorously named Tina Sparkle against IWPA. Both teams played with a 0 goal handicap and the score finished an even 4 all, with a fine match setting up the day’s sports. The sponsor Foxhills Club and Resort gave the winning players over night stays and superb spa packages.


11am saw the Final Academy Match between Minx Cocktails and Los Diablos Rojos. The game was close but with strong players such as Janey Grace and Claire Dallimore, the 'Red Devils' scored a 4-3 win against the Minx Cocktail women.

Between matches, spectators were able to wander between the many stalls which included Equestrian art, Pinki Jewelry and Arbonne skincare. And if they didn't fancy a Polo belt from luxury brand Estribos, there was always ice cream on offer from Weddingtrikes icecream.

Over on Ground 2, ProFit played a -1 to 0 match against the Power Hawkes who stormed through the game with unstoppable confidence, winning a mighty 10-2 1/2.

The 1pm Sub Final was held on the main pitch with a -3 to -4 goal match: Lionharts v Resurrected. A stronger team meant a victory, though close, for Resurrected beating Lionharts 6-5.

The clouds were gathering but that didn't stop a -3 to -4 game between Manor Farm and Aviation Connections. Manor Farm, although holding a higher handicap, were able to keep the Aviation women grounded, beating them 8-4.

Now playing between patches of sunlight that littered the pitch, 2:30pm saw 2 matches on pitches 2 and 5. On pitch 2 the Sub Final had Spiked Extreme Sports playing a -6 goal handicap against Las Cabelleras with a -5 goal handicap: Spiked Extreme Sports came out on top, winning 8-4. On pitch 5 the game, which was a Final, was possibly the most exciting game of the day: K Law Polo against Raggy Dolls. Raggy Dolls played a +1 handicap against a +2 and managed to score just half a point more, winning the Finals with brilliant playing from Farida Rosso Baldacchino, who later was awarded a painting from Equestrian Art.

At 4pm another Final, played by Obsessively Pink against Fieldhouse Farm, started with a -5 to -6 goal handicap. This was Charlotte Christodoulou's second match of the day, but although taking a glorious win with the Power Hawks, Obsessively Pink were unable to hold out against the Farmers and lost 0-1 1/2.

The last match of the day was a 1- to 2-goal handicap Sub-Final played by Silverwood against Team Tonic. The sun was shining again as the players paced up and down the pitch exercising their ponies before the match. This match saw two players playing for the second time, Catherine Isted who had previously played for IWPA and Kirsty Craig who had played for ProFit. Both teams were on fine form but it was Team Tonic who rode away on top. The sponsor Polo Del Sol, the exciting new polo destination in Jerez, Spain, provided the winning team with polo holidays.

The spectators watched with enthusiasm as they ate a hearty lunch provided by Artaste Café, and high spirits continued well after day’s matches were over. All in all it was a day full of fun and optimism, and I can’t wait for the Pro-Am City Polo Championships on 6th September.

For more information on Ascot Park Polo Club please visitwww.polo.co.uk

Isamaya ffrench, LivingPolo UK

Teams:

K Law Polo
Kirsten de la Beck -1
Lisa Forster 0
Sophie HEaton Ellis 1
Rosie Ross 2

Power Hawks
Mandie Ceitner -2
Charlotte Christodoulou -1
Sarah Wiseman 1
Rosie Ross 2

Manor Farm
Wendy Nagle -2
Martina Baletkova -2
Kirsty Reedhead 0
Charlotte Sweeney 0

Las Caballeras
Camilla Swift -2
Henrietta Seligman -1
Alysen Cork -1
Kat Shrives -2

McLintock International
Rebecca Griffiths -2
Flo Barrow -1
Amy Young -2
Emily Griffiths -2

TEam Tonic
Fiona Reilly -1
Catherine Isted 0
Sarah Wiseman 1
Lia Salvo 2

Tina Sparkle
Hazel Jackson 0
Sheena Robertson 0
Leonora de Ferranti 0
Heloise Lorentzen 0

Resurrected
Anita Mitchell -2
Sarah Kate Edwards -1
Donna Sharpe -1
Claire Maldonado 0

Obsessively Pink
Mandie Beitner -2
Charlotte Christodoulou -1
Kirstie Readhead 0
Angela Brady -2

Andros
Mia Randall Coath/Ingrid Brady -1 -2
Georgia Sweeney -2
Peta Adams/ Cristel Lee Leed/ Clare Hudson -2 -2
Angela Brady/ Claire Warrender -2

Raggy Dolls
Steffanie Haverhals 0
Amber Clutton-Brock 0
Louisa Clothier 0
Farida Rosso Baldacchino 1

IWPA
Catherine Isted 0
AnnabelMcNaught-Davis 0
Allie Wick 0
Alex Jacob 0

Linharts
Lisa Simonds -1
Sophie Heaton Ellis 1
Emma Wayland -1
Grace Wang -2

Field House Farm
Jella Herzer -2
Jenny Revell -2
Vicky Griffin 0
Pandora Tucker -2

Kandapola
Emma Wayland -1
Karen Gent -2
Lucy Northmore -2
Abigail Mathias -2

Silverwood
Hayley Hyde-Andrews -1
Di Jacks 0
Kirsty Craig 1
Lucy Taylor 1

Pro-Fit
Nicola Hodges -1
Sam Buckles 0
Kirsty Craig 1
Sarah Frankum -1

Aviation Connextions
Amanda Briggs/ Liz Flynn -2
Sophie Kyriazi -1
Lucinda Watson -1
Annabel McNaught-Davis 0

Spiked Extreme Sports
Wende Ross -2
Lucy Bolton -1
Nadine Welland -1
Nell Jacob -2