Rain didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits
The culmination of months and months of hard work came to fruition at Cowdray Park Polo Club yesterday, Sunday 12 August, as 144 children and their families gathered for the annual Pony Club Polo Championship Finals under a rather stormy sky. The Surtees, Langford, Loriner, Rendell and Gannon series were all in attendance, whilst the Jorrocks Final took place the previous Monday, 6 August, at Hurtwood Park Polo Club. 36 teams had travelled from far and wide to take part in this iconic event, which was this year not blessed with August sunshine.
The quality of the polo being played by these young guns was truly impressive, with plays akin to something you’d find from a national tournament regularly making appearances. The Gannon Final, ultimately won by the Heythrop Hunt, was an outstanding four chukka match, with impressive teamwork from both sides. Lorna Fleming’s beautiful chestnut mare, Easy, who had been passed down through her family, was awarded the Polo Times Best Playing Pony rug.
Awards and prizes were given out to all the section winners and respective runners-up at the two presentations, split to allow those cold and wet players from the earlier sections the grace to pack up and head home to warmer climes. Amongst these awards, the Handley Cross Polo Times Best Playing Pony went to Sweepy, owned and played by Robbie Slatter from the Beaufort, who took his pony with him onto the podium to collect his prize! Scarlett Picksley and her pony Esta were awarded the 2018 Jambo Trophy and given the honour of riding round Lawns 2 with the hounds as this year’s parade was cancelled due to continuous rain. To round it off, Jasmine Stanhope-White was awarded the Most Promising Loriner’s Girl Award, following in her sister, Lolly’s, footsteps, whilst the Pony Club Player of the Year, winning a beautiful SATS saddle, went to Rosanna Turk from the Heythrop.
The September issue of Polo Times will feature The Pony Club Championships report in full, so click here to make sure you and your friends don’t miss out!
Photograph: The Heythrop were crowned Gannon champions at The Flannels Pony Club Polo Championships yesterday, Sunday 12 August, at Cowdray Park Polo Club. By Polo Times