Records were smashed at Chestertons Polo in the Park as crowds flocked into Hurlingham Park for Ladies Day presented by Little Miracles Drinks.
With an array of stars cheering on from Mahiki VIP, Europe’s longest outdoor bar, including Made in Chelsea’s Hugo Taylor and Spencer Matthews, model Kimberley Garner and Surrey cricket star Tom Curren, Saturday at Chestertons Polo in the Park lived up to its reputation as the start of the London summer social season.
The Great Polo Food Festival was a huge attraction as the capacity crowd flocked in to sample a host of London’s most delicious tastes including Le Bun, Carbonis, Bubbledogs, HIX and Gordon Ramsey’s Maze Grill.
The Champagne Lanson Garden was flowing with champagne as spectators kept themselves refreshed whilst in the Fentimans Botanical Cocktail Bar and Garden; the crowds enjoyed the delicious tastes of Pink Lemonade and Elderflower cocktails under a chic canopy of flowers.
For those who wanted to relax after sampling the grazing paddock and array of bars, AwakeConBal provided visual meditation and Pranassage experiences. New this year, the ELEMIS bus gave spectators a massage just metres from the playing surface. The fabulous range of retail outlets in the shopping village lured shoppers all day with happy customers enjoying top retail therapy. The winner of the My Polo Style Ladies Best Dressed competition presented by Little Miracles in association with Jacques Vert was a delighted Amy McHenry who wowed the judges with her stunning outfit.
The festival atmosphere was already in full swing by the time MINT Team London emerged to face Air Europa Team Buenos Aires. With La Martina ambassador Malcolm Borwick again showcasing his remarkable equine skills as he led the home side into an early lead.
Air Europa Team Buenos Aires’s comeback was led by Sam Instone, his trickery and stick skills enabled his side to record a narrow 7:5 victory over MINT Team London.
Mohammed Al Habtoor led Argentex Team Dubai out against Jnan Amar Polo Club Team Marrakech and within seconds he had scored the goal of the tournament as he dribbled the ball all the way from the MINT Bar to the Champagne Lanson Garden.
Jack Richardson and Rhys Cole combined superbly to set up Pete Webb for a coolly taken finish and a frenetic last chukka saw Jnan Amar Polo Club Team Marrakech edge Argentex Team Dubai 6:5 in one of the games of the Chestertons Polo in the Park tournament.
“It was great to get our second win of Chestertons Polo in the Park. The atmosphere today was incredible and we can’t wait for the final tomorrow,” said Jnan Amar Polo Club Team Marrakech’s Rhys Cole.
Navigant’s Ruki Bellieu gave a defensive masterclass that wouldn’t have gone unnoticed at the upcoming European Football Championships but in the end Max Charlton scored a goal worthy of winning any game from an acute angle to see his side home 5:4.
“I thought it was going to be 50/50 today as Ruki Bellieu has played a lot of City polo, but playing with Max Charlton was incredible; he is a phenomenal polo player,” said Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Team Hong Kong’s Sebastian Dawney.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s final, Sebastian Dawney commented, “We are looking forward to tomorrow’s final; it’s going to be really tough against Jnan Amar Polo Club; they’ve got upcoming England player and six-goal handicap Jack Richardson and established arena-player Peter Webb.”
Results
Match 1:
Air Europa Team Buenos Aires 7 : 5 MINT Team London
Match 2:
Jnan Amar Polo Club Team Marrakech 6 : 5 Argentex Team Dubai
Match 3:
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Team Hong Kong 5 : 4 Navigant Team New York
For more information, visit www.polointheparklondon.com.
For more information, contact Gayle Telford E: gayle@revolutionsports.co.uk or T: (0)207 592 1207
CHESTERTONS POLO IN THE PARK
Chestertons Polo in the Park is an annual three-day polo tournament that takes place in June at Hurlingham Park, Fulham. The round-robin style tournament is played under the HPA-endorsed City Polo rules, developed to maximise spectator enjoyment.
Chestertons Polo in the Park is owned and managed by Sportgate International, an international event management and sports marketing agency; founded in 2014 by a team of experienced sports marketing professionals, Sportgate International now owns events and consults to companies and rights holders who require sponsorship and event management expertise.
Chestertons Polo in the Park is part of the global City Polo Series. Events owned and managed by Sportgate International include Chestertons Polo in the Park (London), Singapore Concours d’Elegance, Gulf Concours, England Polo International in Dubai and others.