Hotly Contested Audi Pony Club Polo Championships
The Audi Pony Club Polo Championships, held 9th to 11th August at Cowdray Park, West Sussex, culminated a hotly contested season from some of the best The Audi Pony Club Polo Championships young players in the UK.
The Championships host the annual finals for both The Pony Club Polo sections of Handley Cross, Surtees, Loriner, Ledner and Rendell, as well as the Junior HPA Polo sections of Hipwood, Langford and Gannon.
The few rain showers across the weekend certainly did not dampen the spirits of over 200 Pony Club and Junior HPA players, who had taken part in friendly qualifying matches all over the country in early August, before securing their Championship slot.
The action kicked off for all the sections on Friday morning with the mission to secure a coveted slot in the Sunday afternoon finals, held on Cowdray’s hallowed Lawns I. In a change to the usual line up, 2013 saw the Gannon final held on the Friday night to allow all players, some of whom may have already headed home previously if they were not involved in the finals, the chance to watch the highest level of youth polo; and to see the Cowdray Park team emerge victorious, against Longdole, for an incredible eight time!
After two days of hard fought play for the remaining sections, the fantastic parade of all players and their ponies marked the start of the finals on Sunday. The Handley Cross section, for those aged 14 and under riding ordinary Pony Club ponies, kicked off the action and saw the Surrey Union Branch enjoy the first taste of victory, as they clinched the top spot. Success followed for Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt in Surtees, Cotswold Hunt in Loriner, Silver Leys Polo Club in Hipwood, Guards Polo Club in Langford, Royal Artillery Hunt in Ledner and the Hampshire Hunt in the Rendell.
It was to be the final Championships for Theresa Hodges, who will be stepping down as Chairman of Pony Club Polo at the end of 2013. “It has been my very good luck to serve as Chairman to Pony Club Polo” commented Theresa, “I have enjoyed every minute of witnessing players having fun, whilst making friendship and rivalries to last a polo lifetime”.
The Pony Club Polo Championships have been held at Cowdray Park since 1977, and have enjoyed the generous support of Audi since 2009, which has allowed for continuing development of the three day competition that always deliver fantastic youth sporting achievement, sportsmanship and most importantly enjoyment!
