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Royal Windsor Cup

Clarita Black win medium goal tournament at Guards Polo Club

Montana take Mountbatten Subsidiary Trophy

By Diana Butler

One of Guards Polo Club’s own patrons, Chris Mathias, stepped forward to receive The Al Habtoor Royal Windsor Cup from HM The Queen and Mr Khalaf Al Habtoor after a close game against El Remanso/Loro Piano on The Queen’s Ground.  Clarita Black had looked as if they had the win in the bag as they were leading 51/2-1 after two chukkas. This was thanks to some great play from Man of the Match, Jack Richardson, who was superbly supported by all of his team.  Jack’s performance in this final was all the more remarkable as he stepped into the team at the last minute after Ed Hitchman broke his foot playing polo earlier this week.
 
Surprisingly El Remanso/Loro Piana struggled to find their form in the opening chukkas. This team came back strongly in the third though, scoring three goals from the sticks of Charlie Hanbury and Eduardo Heguy to none in reply from Clarita Black. This closed the score to 51/2-4 to Clarita at half-time and encouraged the many spectators to eagerly return to their seats as this was shaping up to be a game to remember. Unfortunately neither team could live up to this earlier promise, with both sides only fielding two further goals each in the final two chukkas. This ensured Clarita Black won this leading 15-goal competition, securing their first Royal Windsor Cup victory. A delighted Chris Mathias was further delighted when he stepped up to receive the Al Habtoor Best Playing Pony Rug from HM The Queen for Eleonora, whom he had played in the first chukka.
 
The subsidiary final for the Mountbatten Trophy was won by Tony Gerard’s Montana team. They defeated Spencer McCarthy’s Emlor S team 7 - 5 on The Duke’s Ground in another close 15-goal game.
 
The world-renowned horse whisperer Monty Roberts was a guest in the Royal Box on this day too. Through his international Join Up organisation he wanted to recognise the work of several people from South and Central America and Mexico who have worked tirelessly to help stop violence in horse training. So Her Majesty, as patron of Join Up International, presented certificates to several key figures in the equine industry including the Mexican polo superstars Memo and Carlos Gracida.
 
The day concluded with a magnificent display from the  class winners of the British Driving Society Show, who had been competing on the neighbouring Windsor Park Equestrian Club ground. Her Majesty was accompanied by HRH Prince Philip to award rosettes to the championship winners who had lined up in front of the Royal Box, making a superb and fitting finale to a truly wonderful day of equine excellence both off and on the field.