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Cartier International Day is so important in the
English polo calendar that all other polo in the country is
cancelled on that day. This gives the polo fraternity the
opportunity to support the home team in their quest to win the
impressive Coronation Cup at Guards Polo Club.
This year, the England team played a visiting squad from Mexico,
featuring the nine-goal skills of the Gracida brothers, Memo and
Carlos. Both players are well known to English polo fans as they
have played in most of our high-goal tournaments for many years now.
In fact, Carlos holds the record of most wins in the British Open at
Cowdray (Gold Cup), having won it an amazing 10 times and Memo has
his name on the Queen’s Cup which has been played at Guards Polo
Club since 1960.
The England team line-up included Henry Brett, England’s highest
handicapped player and a Guards Polo Club member. Henry saw his
handicap rise to eight at the beginning of this year after some
thrilling play in 2002. Ten is the highest handicap possible in polo
and Henry will be keen to join this exclusive club.
This year’s International Day took place on Sunday, 27 July at
Guards Polo Club, Windsor Great Park. The event traditionally marks
the end of the high-goal season in England (the equivalent of
football’s premier league) and as ever provided a thrilling day of
competition. International Day has been held at Guards – Europe’s
leading polo club – since 1972, although the cup itself dates back
to 1911. Sponsored by Cartier for the past 19 years, the current
International Day format was devised by Major Ronald Ferguson, who
was polo manager at Guards for more than 18 years. Cartier
International Day has attracted high-quality teams from countries
such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, South Africa and Australia. Every
few years the England team play a squad from the USA for the
Westchester Cup, another impressive and long-standing competition.
Cartier also attracts stars from the stage and screen to its
impressive marquee. Internationally renowned chefs such as Anton
Mosimann prepare a stunning three-course lunch for some 800 people
in the elegant Cartier tent. This year Cartier entertained stars
from the world of entertainment including Camilla Rutherford, Sophie
Dahl and Sir David Frost as well as sporting stars Will Carling and
Colin Montgomerie. In fact, on Cartier Day the VIP car park is
always worth a visit with Ferraris and Maseratis jostling for
position alongside vintage Bentleys and Rolls Royces.
International Day action started at 11am when two invited teams –
the Hurlingham and the Prince of Wales’s – took to the Queen’s
Ground at Smith’s Lawn to play for the Golden Jubilee Cup. This
match gave the 25,000-strong crowd a chance to see future England
internationals in action.
Then, at 3.15pm, the main event of the day kicked off. The
impressive band of the Grenadier Guards led the teams on to the
ground for the start of the Coronation Cup. The match is played over
six chukkas (a period of seven minutes) with half-time after the
third. During this break, all the spectators, including guests of
the Royal Box, are invited to “invade” the pitch to tread-in – many
find this a useful opportunity to catch up with old friends who may
be sitting elsewhere in the ground. If the scores had been level
after the sixth then an extra "sudden death" chukka would have been
played. Although this looked a possibility with Mexico always
closing on England, who had started with a two-goal advantage due to
the handicap difference, the home team stayed ahead to win 8-7.
HM The Queen presented the trophy to the winning captain Andrew Hine
and also presented trophies to the best player (Will Lucas of
England) and best pony (Ariana). Guests then lingered over
champagne, cocktails or tea, marvelling on a great day’s sport and
entertainment.
Guards Polo Club was founded in 1955 by HRH The Prince Philip, Duke
of Edinburgh, who remains the club’s president to this day. The club
was originally called the Household Brigade Polo Club, but changed
its name to the Guards Polo Club in 1969. Some 31 years later it
altered its status from a military club to a civilian one. Since
those early days in 1955, the club has grown and is now the largest
polo club in Europe, boasting some 10 grounds. Its premier pitches,
the Queen’s and Duke’s Grounds are considered by the leading players
to be the best club grounds in Britain. The club also boasts an
impressive membership list including HRH The Prince of Wales, Adolfo
Cambiaso – the Tiger Woods of polo – Andrew Hine, captain of England
and supermodel Jodie Kidd.
This season has seen Guards Polo Club open its social membership for
the first time in its 48-year history. For just £250 per annum, plus
a one-off joining fee, club members can bring up to three guests to
any of the 400 fixtures that are played at Smith’s Lawn throughout
the season. Membership also entitles one to priority booking –
essential when some events can attract 20,000 spectators. The club
also has an informal bar and clubhouse for members where one can
entertain over a leisurely lunch or just relax with a Pimms after
watching a thrilling afternoon’s sport.
Guards Polo Club offers something for everyone. The game of polo
provides a fast and furious sport with ponies manoeuvring at over
35mph, while the facilities at Guards offer the ideal venue to
entertain or be entertained.
For further information please contact
Louise Richardson on 01784 434212 or look at the Guards Polo Club
website:
www.guardspoloclub.com |