The El Remanso Pony Club Polo Championships

The El Remanso Pony Club Polo Championships

The El Remanso Pony Club Polo Championships were held 5th to 7th August 2016 at prestigious Cowdray Park Polo Club, West Sussex, and saw some incredible displays of young talent under sunny skies with superb support from title sponsor El Remanso.

188 players made up the 47 teams who played well over 150 chukkas across the action packed weekend, as the Championships hosted the annual finals for The Pony Club Polo sections of Handley Cross, Surtees, Loriner, Langford, Rendell and Gannon.

The action got underway on Friday morning and continued throughout the weekend, with teams on a mission to secure their place in the Sunday afternoon finals, held on Cowdray’s hallowed Lawns I, in front of family and spectators.

Sunday brought both outstanding weather and young polo talent in abundance, beginning with the parade of all players and the presentation of the Jambo Trophy, for the best combination that hunts and plays Pony Club Polo; awarded to Flora ridden by Squidge Grayson from the Grafton Hunt Branch.

The finals got underway with the hotly contested Gannon section, that mirrored the 2015 showdown, featuring the Cotswold Hunt fighting it out against Old Surrey and Burstow; with the Cotswold Hunt emerging victorious yet again 7 – 4.5 goals, with their team of Tommy Severn (17) and his cousin Oscar Luard (17) alongside brothers Patrick (18) and Dominic (16) Lodge.

“It’s really good to be back in the top slot for a second year alongside my cousin and close friends” commented Tommy Severn, who plays number 3 for the Cotswold Hunt. “It’s been a great weekend, with competitive play and teams from across the country on good grounds; Pony Club Polo is just such good fun with amazing people involved.”

As the afternoon progressed other section victories included; Surtees – Cowdray Hunt, Loriner – Cotswold Hunt, Langford – Grafton Hunt and Rendell – Royal Artillery Hunt.

The Handley Cross section final, for those aged nine-14, proved just as nail biting as the upper sections, with just a single six minute chukka for teams to show what they had got, and the Cowdray Hunt gold team and the Old Surrey and Burstow Hunt Branch certainly did that; with the Cowdray Hunt team of Rufus Uloth (11), Beanie Bradley (11), Connor Kay (13) and Oliver Conway (13) just emerging victorious on a score of 1-0.

“The Pony Club Polo Championships is somewhere we really wanted to come and playing on the main ground at Cowdray Park was the best bit!” said Beanie Bradley, who plays number in 2 for Cowdray Hunt team.

The prize giving saw a vast array of trophies given out, not only to section winners, but also individual awards for up and coming talent including a generous week of polo development for a player under 15 courtesy of sponsors El Remanso, awarded to Ben Nott (15) from the Tedworth Hunt Branch.

“We were very proud to sponsor the Pony Club Polo Championships again this year, and what a success it was!” commented Bridget Hanbury of El Remanso. “It’s hugely encouraging to see so many young players enjoying the game and improving their polo year on year, forging new friendships and taking home memories that will last a lifetime. We’ve seen lots of promising Pony Club Polo players out at El Remanso who are now coming through the ranks, it’s hugely rewarding and we hope to see lots more in the years to come!”

Earlier in the week the Jorrocks section, for those aged under 11, enjoyed their Championships at Hurtwood Park Polo Club, which saw the Old Berkshire Hunt Branch take the top spot.

“We have had a fantastic season most of the time blessed with glorious weather after significant rain had softened the grounds, so the conditions were near perfect for polo” commented Charles Whittington, Chairman of Pony Club Polo. “Our wonderful sponsors El Remanso and the Hurlingham Polo Association, together with Thai Polo and our tack shop sponsors of SATS, Roxtons, Polo Splice and RJ Polo supported us along with the Polo Clubs who allow us to play on their grounds; my personal thanks go to the committee and the army of volunteers who make the Pony Club Polo season possible”.

A full set of results can be found HERE

Notes to Editors:
For further information and images please contact Clare Walkeden on 02476 698310 or email media@pcuk.org.

Pony Club Polo incorporates the following sections: Jorrocks (6 – under 11), Handley Cross (9 – under 14), Surtees (9 – under 14), Loriner (12 – under 16), Langford (under 17), Rendell (16 – under 21), Gannon (under 21)
El Remanso: www.elremansopolo.com
El Remanso is situated in the heart of one of Argentina’s renowned polo regions, enjoying a splendid rural location just 1 hour from Buenos Aires International Airport. Their top class facilities include 4 boarded polo fields, floodlit tennis court, swimming pool and gym. El Remanso offer bespoke polo holidays to players of all standards and ages, specialising in school trips and family holidays.
The Pony Club is a Registered Charity No: 1050146 | Incorporated as a Company Limited By Guarantee Registered in England No: 3072475

Clare Walkeden MCIPR
Commercial Manager

DDI: 02476 698310
Mobile: 07920 400988

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Suzanne Ashton

Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.