at
Offchurch Bury Polo Club 10th - 11th
June
2006.
By Michael Hobday
Photos: Sophie Scott-Hoad
What a
Bobby Dazzler! The sun was scorching, the hosts fantastic, the numbers
immense and the social scene… well read Tatler!
44 teams, 15
more than last year and that was a record, took part. The change of
venue to Offchurch Bury Polo Club worked. Horse box area, 2 pitches,
camping area and club house all within walking distance and to cap it
all a beautiful setting. As well as laying on music and an Argie Asado
for the Saturday night, blame Edinburgh for the barrel of cider.
Some stayed up till 6am! I managed till 3am!
SUPA were well supported by Roxtons Sporting and Polo Skool, both who did the
tournament proud, with prizes and support. Thanks must go as well to
our umpires who kept not only a good standard but also showed fairness
throughout, despite the scorching sun.
All sections were well
open going into the final day, with the big surprise being the
demolition of favourites Reading in the Intermediate by a very strong
Exeter team, not resting on their laurels they were going with Polo Skool the following week
to Sotogrande, for more coaching with HPA Coach Nick Williams.
In fact, Exeter are the University of the
moment winning all sections bar the Beginners Division 1, where the
Reading Beginners finished the year as they started with having never
conceded and never losing a chukka, both Arena and out.
What came to the fore was the comraderie
and enjoyment of players and the likeness of play to that of Country
Polo, with the Umpires all mentioning how polite and easy the games
were to manage. Perhaps others should take heed!
One of the happiest teams were St Andrews who
last year took the wooden spoon and this made the Novice final, a
victory to them even though they just lost.
For the first time in 2 years we were able
to host an Open final, contested by Exeter and London, and ably
commented by Izzy fm (Izzy van Romunde). Despite strong
play by the Khan’s, the talents of Horton and the work of Allen
overcame London as Exeter wore the opposition down chukka by chukka to
take the match 4 - 2.
OPEN
Winners:
Exeter
MVP: Leon Allen
Runners
up: London
INTERMEDIATE
Winners:
Exeter
MVP: Mary Denton
Runners
up: Reading
NOVICE
Winners:
Exeter
MVP: Henry Nichols
Runners
up: St. Andrews
BEGINNERS 1
Winners:
Reading
MVP: Rory Horgan
Runners
up: Oxford Brookes
BEGINNERS 2
Winners:
Exeter
Runners
up: Nottingham
Universities
who took part: Aberdeen, Bristol, Durham, Edinburgh, Exeter, Leeds,
London, Nottingham, Oxford Brookes, Reading, Royal Agricultural
College, Royal Holloway, St. Andrews, Southampton, Warwick,
York.
