Oxford retained the Jack Wills Varsity Trophy on 12 June, but only after a close battle with their old rivals Cambridge. The dark blues have dominated this match in recent years - even winning 4-0 in 2008 - but Cambridge put up a strong fight this year and looked on course to find an equaliser and take the game into extra time when the final bell rang. This was an especially impressive perforamnce from the light blues as the match was played "open" which meant that Cambridge did not receive any handicap advantage. As their combined team handicap was -5 compared to Oxford's 1, losing the game 5-4 was a great achievement. Peter Williams, the Chief Executive of Jack Wills, presented the historic Varsity Trophy to Oxford's Tom Mayou.
His team-mate, Tom Meacher, was named Most Valuable Player and Cambridge's Tobi Edun, who had also impressed the judges with some intellingent play, received the Best Playing Pony Award for the seven-year-old Spots, whom he had played in the third chukka.
Whether it was the warm sunshine or the large crowd, but all the teams on Jack Wlls Day appeared to have upped their game in 2010. Eton, who had been confined to school last year due to the swine flu outbreak, took their annual schools match to the wire, only losing to Harrow (rec 0.5 goals) 4.5-3. Harrow once again fielded the talented Jack Richardson and he proved a pivotal captain. Playing off three goals, he is in a class of his own and, appropriately, was named Most Valuable Player. Richardson is definitely one to watch and will surely be a member of the England polo team in the near future? Salman Alhamrani of Eton received the Best Playing Pony Award for a bay mare owned by Guards Polo Club's former polo manager Roddy Wood.
The polo concluded with another thrilling game - this time from the Ivy league universities. Harvard have dominated this competition, winning on both previous occasions. Yale put up a strong fight this time around and although they lost 7 -5.5, provided a thrilling game for the spectators who remained gripped to their seats. Both teams fielded more than the usual four players with Jessica Glass and Elizabeth Kennedy sharing the number two place for Yale, while Diego Nunez and Roy Willey shared number one slot for Harvard with Albany Mulholland and JP Stilz doubling up for number two shirt.
Nick Snow, who once again put up an impressive performance for Harvard, received the Best Playing Pony Award for Phoebe, a 10-year-old New Zealand mare owned by John Horswell. However this year the Most Valuable Player Award went to William Taniard of Yale, who matched Snow, his step brother, for pace and ability and kept the white shirts in the game.
The old boys took over grounds in the morning of Varsity Day - with the Old Etonians narrrowly winning 3-2. It was more clear clut in the Old Blues match, with Oxford beating Cambridge 6-1.
Oxford: Tarquin Wethered (0); Tom Meacher (0); Will Spray (0); Tom Mayou (1). Cambridge: Alex Hallett (-2); Liam Gamble (-1); Tobi Edun (-1); Jamie Hepburn (-1).
Harrow: Salman Alhamrani (0); Ned Armstrong (-2); Jack Richardson (3); Piers Lakin (0). Eton: John Sleeman (1); Alex Pitman (0); Gonzalo Entrecanles (1); Peter Merriam (0).
Harvard: Diego Nunez/Roy Willey (-1); Albany Mulholland/J P Stilz (-1); Mike Scalise (-1); Nick Snow (4). Yale: Franz Colloredo-Mansfield (-1); Jessica Glass/Elizabeth Kennedy (-1); Graham Radman (-1); William Taniard (3).
Old Oxford Blues: Billy de Sel (1); Andrew Dechet (1); Claire Tomlinson (1); Harry Townshend (0). Old Cambridge Blues: Mark Johnston (-1); Jeremy Allen (2); Brod Munro Wilson (-1); Amber Clutton-Brock (0).
Old Etonians: Michael Mylonas (0); Tristan Phillimore (1); Guy Schwarzenbach (2); Ben Vestey (3). Old Harrovians: Cameron Bacon (0); Prince Amir of Pahang (0); Richard Le Poer (4); Kim Richardson (2).