156 Teams Compete at Rugby Polo Club
The annual SUPA National University Arena Championships at Rugby Polo Club was a world record breaker this year with 156 teams participating in 15 different sections. The Midlands Club coped well with the huge numbers of players, supporters and pony providers flooding in for the four day festival, with the three arenas and eateries positively brimming as the battle commenced for the top title in each section. To spice up this year’s edition of the tournament Friday and Saturday evening saw an international section added to the tournament to include Ireland, Great Britain and a team from the USPA I/I programme in America. Warwick University Polo Club had a fantastic weekend, winning three sections. They could also have won a medal for the loudest supporters at their games and the presentation! London and Kent also had a great tournament, both winning two sections each, but the most sought after Open section title this year went to The Royal Veterinary College. 5 goaler Harold Hodges had an excellent weekend, not only was he part of the winning Open team for RVC but he also helped to take home the top prize for the International, alongside teammates Charlie Scott, Will King and Rayahan Sherlala. Of course Uni Nationals would not be the same without a party. This year each University Polo Club picked their own theme. The upstairs bar was filled with fancy dress aplenty – jellyfish, sheep, unicorns, wild cats and butterflies that danced into the small hours of Sunday morning. There will be a full report and social spread in the March issue of Polo Times.
Begginer 1 – Warwick
Begginer 1a – London
Begginer 2 – Kent Owls
Begginer 3 – London
Novice 1 – Warwick
Novice 1a – Manchester
Novice 2 – Cardiff
Lower Intermeidate – Kent Ospreys
Upper Intermediate – Warwick
Open – Royal Veterinary College
SAPA – Puffles
International – Great Britain
Most Valuable Player – Thomas Gordon-Colebrooke (Buckingham)
The APSPH Best Hired Playing Pony – Balla, owned by Inglesham Polo Centre and played by Julian Van Elslander (Cardiff)
Photograph: Harold Hodges in action for The Royal Veterinary College in the Open. By Lucy Wilson
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