Females fill the Field at Ascot Park
By Victoria Elsbury-Legg
With many hoping for sunshine throughout this last August Bank Holiday weekend, it will be an especially welcome spectator for the country’s female players who will gather this Saturday and Sunday 23rd/24th August for The UK’s National Women’s Polo Tournament held at Ascot Park Polo Club and supported by Tally Ho Farm.
Now in its 26th year, this is heralded as the most established all female tournament in the international polo calendar and will feature many well-known players, including Charlotte Sweeney, Rosie Ross, Lucy Taylor, Amber Clutton-Brock, Nell Jacob and Heloise Wilson-Smith to name but a few. First played in 1989 it led to the foundation of the International Women’s Polo Association (IWPA) in 1997 by Pippa Gillard (nee Grace), aimed at supporting and promoting female players around the world. With team handicaps ranging from -8 to 2 goals this is a tournament specifically designed to be inclusive and open to players across the UK.
Matches begin at 10am this Saturday on Ground 5 and 11am on Grounds 2 and 3, with subsequent games being played throughout the day and continuing on Sunday (and I’ve been reliably informed that spectators can expect the sun to join them to witness some great on pitch action). Following the final whistle and Sunday’s prize-giving there is the chance to unwind at The 26th UK Women’s Nationals Final’s Fiesta in the Ground 1 marquee – Dress code: ‘Just got off your pony casual’.