The final of the Guards Ladies 16-Goal Tournament really was a game of two halves. La Mariposa USA – and the impressive Nina Clarkin – ensured they had an impressive 7-0 lead at half-time. Nina, playing off a 10-goal ladies’ handicap, was unstoppable. She made the most of any space and delivered some fabulous runs to goal. Transis by Los Quirones’s Milly Hine worked hard to stop Nina when she could but was no match for this top lady player and some fast ponies in the opening chukkas.
It was a different story in the second half. Milly converted penalties and scored field goals to bring Transis by Los Quirones back in contention at the end of the third, finishing on a 7-4 scoreline. With La Mariposa USA now struggling to find goals there was all to play for in the last chukka. Claire Brougham started the scoring in this period for La Mariposa USA. Milly Hine, who never stopped fighting in this match and covered every inch of the Queen’s Ground, scored twice, but could not make a strong enough inroad into la Mariposa’s opening superiority.
Not surprisingly, after such an outstanding performance, Nina received the Most Valuable Player prize. She also took home the Polo Times Best Playing Pony prize for Whippet.
With six teams taking part in this year’s tournament Guards Polo Club hosted both a sub final and a match for fifth and sixth place. The sub final winners were Minninnooka. They beat Equibiome 7-6. Valhalla finished in fifth place after beating Smiths Polo 4-2.5.
La Mariposa USA: Vijayashree Shaktawat (0); Anja Jacobs (1); Claire Brougham (5); Nina Clarkin (10). Transis By Los Quirones: Isabel Milojevic (0); Lorna Howe (3); Charlotte Pykett (4); Milly Hine (9).
Minninnooka: Mandie Beitner (0); Zoe Reader (5); Kirstie Otamendi (5); Rosie Ross (6). Equibiome: Holly Mason (0); Olivia Lamphee (4); Maitena Marre (7); Annable McNaught-Davis (5).
Valhalla: Sam Bucklers (3); Abby Foreman (4); Emma Sanderson (4); Stephanie Harris (5). Smiths Polo: Lisa Smith (2); Sammy Luff (3); Jemima Walker (4); Sarah Wiseman (6).
Images copyright Art of Polo
