...and they are off again: Horses are ready and chukkas have started!

Winner of Sunday's challenge match: Temptress :-)

19/20 August: This was a fun weekend at Fifield with teams entered into the tournament from JNR Polo, Divot Divas, Polo Performance and Star Fuels, plus a challenge match on both days. Well done to all the players who on Sunday in particular played some of their best polo this season. The subsidiary was a close game, with Polo Performance beating JNR Polo 7-5½. The final saw Divot Divas take the lead against Star Fuels and by the end of the third had increased the gap to 6-2. However the win wasn't assured as Star Fuels came back strongly in the fourth chukka scoring 3 goals and producing an exciting climax. Great play from both teams and congratulations to Divot Divas for winning the tournament 6-5.

5/6 August, Jo Hamed Memorial Tournament: Glorious weather returned to Fifield for Sunday's final of the Jo Hamed Memorial Trophy. Tony Edward's MOTO team were through to the final and up against Divot Divas. The teams were ready for the bright and early start time with both scoring one goal in the first chukka, however MOTO were leading by 1½ goals because of the handicap difference. It was all change in the second chukka when MOTO really got their eye in and dominated the chukka. Divot Divas were taken by surprise as MOTO notched up three goals. However the hooter sounded with the ball just outside MOTO's goal and the Divas were able to capitalize at the start of the third by winning the line out and reducing the deficit to 5½-2 goals. Mel Hare quickly put the goal difference back to four in favor of MOTO. A 60 yard penalty opportunity for Divas went wide and it is MOTO who score again after a period of dominance with a goal by Edwards. The Divas show their metal when Ricky Cooper makes a break down the field and leaves the ball for Caroline Mair who kept her cool and put the ball between the posts. The chukka ends with the ball in midfield and the score at 7½-3. The fourth chukka began with Hare winning a foul and scoring from the spot. Cooper managed to get one back and sparked a fight back by the Divas team which resulted in a further goal. With 3 minutes left the Divas were pounding MOTO's goal but nothing would go in. Finally it is MOTO that break free and counter attack, and Hare scores to bring the score to 9½-5 with only 30 seconds left. The victory to MOTO was sealed when the hooter sounded. The day's polo was ended with an asado at the club... thanks to Matt Lodder and Fede Boudou.

Thank you to everyone that turned out on Saturday to support the Polo for Heroes Event. The polo started shortly after midday with Healthcare International playing Libertine/Moto. Shane Younger's Healthcare team were in excellent form and showed their two goal handicap advantage with two consecutive goals from David Banner-Eve. Jason McCrieght fired in a reply in the closing seconds of the chukka to keep Libertine/Moto half a goal in the lead. The second chukka was locked in a stalemate with neither team scoring. The third chukka, however, erupted with a flourish of goals for Healthcare all scored by Banner-Eve. Starting with a 30 yard penalty, followed by a spectacular backhand, and finished off by taking the score to 5 goals to 2.5 goals in the closing 30 seconds of play. It looked like the mountain would be too high for Libertine/Moto to climb, but the final chukka turned out to be a cliff hanger with a spectacular goal from Jason McCrieght and two scored by Bertie Nix to win the game for Libertine/Moto by half a goal. The second match was between Deloittes and El Remanso. Deloittes proved to be a force to be reckoned with and ran away with the match, preventing El Remanso from scoring for much of the game. The score at the end was a conclusive 9 goal to 2 goal victory for Deloittes. Unfortunately the weather deteriorated, and heavy rain meant further play was not possible. Despite this the rain did ease and the crowd were entertained by the 'motorized polo pony' display. The evening's auction and raffle alone raised approximately £10,000 for the charity. The dinner was followed by live music from the band who seemed to know exactly what everyone wanted to shake their thing to, and the dance floor was filled all night. Thanks to the organizers and team that worked so hard to make the event such a success.

Getting ready for Saturday's Polo for Heroes event

Polo for Heroes event on Saturday at Fifield. Matches scheduled to start at 12.15pm. See the Help for Heroes polo team in action, as well as top class UK polo players Chris Hyde, Ryan Pemble, Jack Hyde and Matt Lodder, joined by international players Federico Boudou and Hamza Mawaz to name a few. The last match of the afternoon is scheduled for 5.15pm, so plenty of polo to come and watch. Commentary throughout for the games and refreshments, both hot and cold, will be available. Proceeds from the event go to the charity.

15/16 July: The MOTO Summer Gold Cup Tournament was won by Polo International. Healthcare found themselves facing a formidable force in Scott Brady's Polo International team (Roddy Matthews, Charlie Tighe and Ricky Cooper). Healthcare were able to hold onto a narrow lead of half a goal going into the third chukka (2.5 - 2), but then found the superior handicap of their opposition began to tell. By the end of the third the score was 2.5 - 5, and Polo International added a further 2 goals in the fourth. A mix up between Cooper and Matthews in the closing minute presented Mat Lodder with an opportunity to get a consolation goal which he duly took ending the match with the score standing at 3.5 - 7 goals. Congratulations to Polo International.

The MOTO Summer Gold Cup is underway with six teams entered. Tomorrow's final and subsidiary matches should be fun to watch... and the catering van will be on site keeping you refreshed while you enjoy the polo.

The Harum Scarum turned out to be a fast paced 4 goal tournament, with lots of action and entertainment for the spectators and team supporters. The final was a close match throughout, but Harum Scarum managed to pull away in the last chukka to defeat a very strong Moto Team by 9 goals to 7. It was a busy weekend with challenge matches in addition to the tournament. Thanks to everyone for taking part and making it such good fun.

24/25 June: The Jackson Friends and Family Cup. The last tournament of June was decided by an American match, with three teams competing to win the Jackson Friends and Family Cup. Caroline's Divot Divas played well, as did Olympia's Libertine team with Mel scoring three consecutive goals in the first chukka. But this wasn't enough when both teams came up against Tony's team Moto. The combination of Ivan and Alex with both the -2 players, Tony and Youseff, playing at the top of their handicaps was too much. Moto were the overall winners. The subsidiary match was played earlier in the day and saw the father and son team of Deloittes (Julian and Riley) lose by just half a goal to Tempest. Well done to Riley who was on fire, out scoring every other player on the field!!