Polo – Churchill Retirement triumph with Blue Jackets Win
The New Forest Polo club’s premier tournament of the season was held at New Park last weekend, sponsored by Mrs Simmonds a founding member of the club & Barfoots of Botley it provided a thrilling spectacle of 6 goal polo over three days and even had the appearance of a female streaker on Saturday afternoon!
The tournament got off to a start on Thursday with last year winner’s Maize Dulce and this year’s favourites against their old adversaries Coombe Place, however the underdogs on paper Coombe Place played well and caused an upset winning 8½ - 4. The other victories on the day were for Churchill Retirement, Emlor & Ridgeback all four teams would now contend for the prestigious Blue Jackets Cup.
On Saturday, semi finals day, victories for Churchill Retirement and the Ridgebacks meant they would fight it out for the Blue Jackets Cup on Sunday, victories for Maize Dulce and Tchogan and they would play for the Gieves Cup. The defeated teams Emlor, Coombe Place , Capillia & Melbury would play for the subsidiary Wilde & Cadnam Cups.
Sunday, Finals day and the action began with Capillia & Melbury playing for the Cadnam Cup, Melbury quickly pulled ahead and were leading comfortably by the end of the 2nd chukka, however Capillia turned things around and at 4-5 down in the final moments of the game had 60yd penalty stopped on the goal line to deny them extra time & hopes of victory, and the Cup went to Melbury 5-4.
The next match was between Coombe Place and Emlor for the Wilde Cup, Emlor struck first with a penalty followed by fine goal from Will Emerson to make 2- 0½, an excellent shot from Cameron Ellis & the 1st chukka finished 2 - 1½. This match was tight with end to end polo the result was going to be close, In the 3rd chukka Coombe Place got ahead 4½- 3, then followed two goals one a piece from Peter Woods & Will Emerson to give Emlor a slight advantage at 5 - 4½ but again Coombe Place replied and then a conceded penalty gave Emlor back the lead. Coombe place still chased hard and it seemed inevitable that they would score through Simon Jackson but he had three consecutive efforts saved on the line and Emlor ran out winners by the narrowest of margins 6 - 5½.
The Blue Jackets Final was between Churchill Retirement and Ridgebacks, both started a little nervously but it was Churchill Retirement through Hazel Jackson who took the lead, however Ridgeback were not to be outdone and a fine goal by Kelvin Johnson and they were level and the game was on. Martin ffrench Blake scored a penalty at the end of the 1st chukka giving Churchill Retirement the lead. The second chukka was a tense affair with teams trying to establish their superiority but they were evenly matched and the second chukka finished goalless. In the 3rd chukka the Ridgebacks are awarded a 40yd penalty and have the chance to draw level, Kelvin Johnson strikes the ball and it goes wide, Churchill take strength from this and husband and wife Laura & Maurice Ormerod combine well and Maurice slips a pass to Martin ffrench Blake and he scores, 3-1 to Churchill Retirement. In the final chukka the Ridgebacks attack the defence of Churchill again and again and finally Kelvin Johnson scores to reduce the deficit to 1 goal, with time now running out Churchill hold firm and come out winners 3-2.
The final match of the day was for the Gieves Cup, played for by Maize Dulce and Tchogan, Matt Pitts opens the scoring for Maize Dulce, but Tchogan want this Cup and playing some great polo score two goals to gain advantage. In the 2nd chukka and Maize Dulce under pressure on their backline, Nico Talimoni robs Lochie Hunter and taps in to give Tchohan a 3-1 lead. Maize Dulce reduce the deficit with a penalty and then Heiko Voelker being chased and harried by Peter Barfoot scores a great goal to restore their 2 goal margin. In this thrilling match and the game poised at 5 -5 in the final chukka it’s anybody’s to win, Tchogan again get their noses in front but Maize Dulce keep battling away, it’s end to end polo and then Tomas Elliot strikes a killer blow and it’s 7-5 to Tchogan, a great match to seal a fantastic tournament.
