This talented quartet, who won the British Ladies Open Championship at Cowdray a month earlier, put up an impressive performance to win this prestigious polo trophy 9-51/2, beating HH Sheikha Alya Al Maktoum’s young team, AM Polo, who received half a goal on handicap.
The first two chukkas were tense, with Nina Clarkin for Semper Anticus and AM Polo’s Milly Hine trading both tough ride offs and horse races down the Queen’s Ground. Semper Anticus were ahead 5-31/2 at half time but this game still looked as if it could go either way.
Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi’s team stepped up a gear in the latter stages of the match though. Nina successfully converted a 60-yard penalty to give Semper Anticus a bit of air on the score (6-41/2). She then fired through a field goal from the subsequent throw in and followed that up with a brilliant pass to Chloe Horswell to given Semper Anticus a strong, 8-41/2 lead going into the final chukka.
AM Polo stayed focused though, with Olivia Merlos finding the flags in the first minute of the fourth chukka. A minute later though Lucy Coddrington found the flags for Semper Anticus. This gave Clarinda’s team a comfortable 9-51/2 advantage and although there was plenty of fast play for the remaining four minutes, tight defending from both sides ensured no further goals.
This is the second year of Clé de Peau Beauté’s sponsorship and Brand Manager Ciara Lynott presented the prizes, including the Lord Patrick Beresford Trophy to Clarinda, while her team-mate, Nina Clarkin was named Most Valuable Player. AM Polo’s Milly Hine received the Clé de Peau Beauté Best Playing Pony prize for the nine-year-old Morejon Pelicana, whom Milly had played in the first and fourth chukkas.
The sub final, which had been played earlier in the day, saw a decisive win for Maiz Dulce. They beat Polo Performance 6-4.
The third ladies’ game of the day was a charity match featuring Guards Polo Club’s patrons plus one higher handicapped lady player per team. Victory in this match went to the Clé de Peau Beauté team. They beat Guards Polo Club 31/2-1. Jushna Begum from Clé de Peau Beauté and Victoria Clare, CEO of Ovacome, presented the charity match prizes. Olympia Paus was named the Most Valuable Player while her beautiful grey, whom Olympia had played in the third chukka, was named the Best Playing Pony and received a stunning flower headcollar.
Away from the field of polo the main focus of the day was substantial fundraising for Ovacome – the UK’s national ovarian cancer support charity. An amazing live auction, brilliant silent auction plus a raffle raised substantial funds for the charity.
Semper Anticus: Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi (1); Chloe Horswell (1); Lucy Coddington (5); Nina Clarkin (10). AM Polo: HH Sheikha Alya Al Maktoum (2); Juana Lavinia (3); Olivia Merlos (4); Milly Hine (7).
Maiz Dulce: Millie Barfoot (3); Rosie Lawrance (1); Rosie Ross (6); Heloise Wilson-Smith (6). Polo Performance: Michaela Weber (1); Tessa Collett (3); Tamara Fox (6); Emma Wood (6)
Clé de Peau Beauté: Kate Lindsay-Fynn (1); Olympia Paus (2); Mindi Byrne (2); Alex Jacob (5). Guards Polo Club: Phoebe Leake (1); Sarah Clark (2); Jayne Rumsey (2); Catalina Lavinia (6).
