Report British Ladies’ Championships
L-r: Saskia Meadows, Nina Clarkin, Alice Gipps, Clare Milford Haven, Peter Wood (general manager of Grayshott Spa), club chairman Robin Butler, Lila Pearson, Lucy Taylor, Sarah Wiseman and Rosie Ross. The Audi side, in red, had to make hasty changes after two of their original players broke bones just before the tournament
‘The best ladies’ game yet’
Players at Cowdray’s biggest all-female fixture agreed that a phenomenal ground and strong teams made the final a highlight, says Yolanda Carslaw
N
ina Clarkin, the world’s best female player, led a disciplined Audi team to victory in one of the speediest, most open games seen in the UK women’s game to take the British
Ladies’ Championships at Cowdray. The two-goal foursome beat a well-balanced four-goal Cowdray Vikings side on Lawns II.
Four teams, handicapped from zero to four goals, entered the week-long tournament. A
midday at Trippetts in a Queen’s Cup match. The hundreds who did watch, however, were rewarded with a brilliant, skilful game, which many observers preferred to the stickier main event between England and South Africa. Cowdray Vikings started strongly, racking up the goals to snap at the heels of Audi (rec 11/2), in particular with a beautiful shot from Sarah Wiseman from 50 yards out and a stunner from Rosie Ross. However, Clarkin – always in the right
“Alice scored great goals and was incredibly accurate, but when you play as a team everyone stands out” – Nina Clarkin
preliminary round decided the finalists, Audi beating Raggy Dolls – fielding four zero-goalers – and Vikings narrowly beating two-goal Quattuor, with one-goalers Charlotte Sweeney and Aurora Eastwood as lynchpins. Audi had a last-minute change of line-up pre-tournament when team members Louisa Wentworth-Stanley broke her foot and Lulu Hutley broke her collarbone. Clare Milford Haven, who put the Audi side together, said: “It was sad I couldn’t have my daughter [Louisa] and my best friend playing, but I felt we made good replacements.”
A decent crowd arrived in glorious sunshine for the midday final, held before the St Regis Test Match though local turnout was slightly depleted because Loro Piana were playing La Bamba at
38 July 2010
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position, never in a hurry – kept control of her team, the pace and the play, sending passes to Alice Gipps and Clare Milford Haven at the front door with cool assurance. Gipps in particular, who won most valuable player, was outstanding. By half-time Audi were up 61/2-4, and extended their lead further in the second half. In an exciting last chukka, Vikings made heroic efforts, but a sensational goal from Lucy Taylor with two minutes to go was not enough, and Audi won 91/2-7.
“I loved the game: we were two strong teams, the ground was impeccable and we had a lot of fun,” Clarkin told Polo Times. “The whole team played well, and when you play as a team everyone stands out. Alice scored great goals and was incredibly accurate.”
Milford Haven agreed: “It was one of the best ladies’ games I’ve ever played. The standard was good, it was open, on a fantastic field, and there weren’t endless mêlées. All our opponents play well and are really nice girls.”
Clarkin also praised the youngest player on the field, Saskia Meadows. “Saskia took instruction well: she was told to stay close to her man and listen to the calls and she carried the ball very well too.” Milford Haven added: “She’s jolly handy.” Taylor agreed the game was fast-paced and fun. “The final was probably the best game of women’s polo I’ve played in England. If one of us had paid more attention to Nina I think we would have been in with a chance.” F
◗ Did you watch this ladies’ match? Do you agree with the girls’ assessment? Tell us what you thought by writing to
letters@polotimes.co.uk
British Ladies’ Championships; 20-22 May; Cowdray Park, West Sussex
Teams: Audi (2): Clare Milford Haven 0; Alice Gipps 0; Nina Clarkin 4; Saskia Meadows –2 Cowdray Vikings (4): Lila Pearson 0; Sarah Wiseman 1; Rosie Ross 2; Lucy Taylor 1 Quattuor (2): Laura Ormerod 0; Aurora Eastwood 1; Charlotte Sweeney 1; Claire Brougham 0 Raggy Dolls (0): Sam Buckles 0; Heloise Lorentzen 0; Katrina Thomas 0; Stephanie Haverhals 0
Photograph by Yolanda Carslaw
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