Sport of a different kind took centre stage at Guards Polo Club on 4th July when the Club hosted the fourth Charlie Stisted Charity Shoot. Created in 2012 to honour the Club's former CEO, this year's event included the unveiling of a permanent plaque on the Clubhouse wall in his memory.

Twenty-five teams took part in the shoot, which was managed by EJ Churchill and held at Flemish Farm, with kind permission of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and the Crown Estate. Teams featured patrons, players, Board Directors and many friends of the Stisted family.

A hallmark of the shoot has always been that it raises funds for the Guards regiments. This year it was the turn of the Irish Guards - the regiment of our own Vice President Lt Col Sean O'Dwyer. Not only are the team entries donated to the charity, but the post shoot lunch, created by Mosimann’s, also featured an impressive auction. Before some frenetic bidding, Lt Col Jonathan Palmer spoke about the work of the Irish Guards Charitable Funds, highlighting its essential work with those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Auctioneer Addison Gelpey also inspired everyone to dig deep – with lots such as an exclusive day for six with the Irish Guards in London, a helicopter flight and tickets to the Gold Cup final at Cowdray Park and a day for eight guns at the renowned Dunskey Estate in Scotland, this was not difficult.

The shoot prize-giving followed, with David Bertie of Simon Holland’s team winning the La Martina/Country Colony Best Shot prize, while Fie Lucan won the Wellygogs/Country Colony Best Lady shot prize. Clive Reid received the La Martina Best Dressed award. In the team competition, Gary Short’s Eyes Wide Shut team came out top with an impressive score of 512, winning Purdeys bags and the Charles Stisted Trophy . This team featured the Deputy Ranger of Windsor Great Park, Paul Sedgewick and he looked delighted to finish ahead of the Crown Estate Keepers, who scored 496. Close behind, on 495 points, was the Halebourne Group.

Melissa Stisted stands in front of the Clubhouse plaque dedicated to her late husband, Charlie Stisted, with former and serving officers of his regiment, the Scots Guards, including Guards Polo Club's CEO Neil Hobday (copyright Images of Polo)