This 8 goal challenge match for the Sir David Brown Cup was incredibly closely fought between Clarita and Healthcare International. Sir David Brown was one of Aston Martin’s head designers and his initials DB are still used to name the car manufactures models today. 

Clarita ran out the winners by half a goal after maintaining the lead throughout the match. The Mathias family’s Clarita Polo Team have had a very successful 2010 season. See the highlights from this exciting encounter below.

August and September highlights for Ham Polo Club include a number of away fixtures, the farthest of these is the match played on the Newport polo grounds in the United States of America. Every year HPC Chairman Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers selects a team to travel across the atlantic for a week long tour of polo and some of the finest hospitality and entertainment you could possibly expect.

The 2010 team consisted of Ben de Rivaz, Benjie Davis, Charlie Wood and Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers. Arriving a few days before the match the team were able to play a practice on some of the horses they would be playing in the big game. They were also able to familiarise themselves with some of the rule differences between the USPA and the HPA. 



The main match was played on Saturday in front of several thousand spectators and in beautiful weather conditions. An incredible atmosphere was created in the run up to the game with national anthems being played after the players had been introduced. 



The game began and HPC scored the opening goal, this however was not going to be the story of the first half. Newport came back with several goals and the visitors seemed to be in trouble. By half time of the six chukka match HPC were trailing by three goals. A decision was made to change the line up completely; Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers moved to No.1 de Rivaz to No.2 Davis to No.3 and Wood to back. The effect was immediatly seen as Colquhoun-Denvers and Davis put points on the board straight after half time. 

The home team were unshaken and managed to raise their game further, still holding on to the lead. Chukkas four and five were highly exciting and HPC managed to start making some excellent attacking runs. The speed that the home side were able to turn the direction of play around still caused problems for HPC; as they rode on to the field for the final chukka they needed four goals to take the Vanderbilt Cup home to London. 



HPC got one field goal back quickly, then a penelty. Newport kept relentless pressure on but missed two opportunities. Ham then threw away a further two chances to score as the field became increasingly cut up by the fast turns from the ponies in front of goal. As the clock ticked down Wood converted a penelty to put the scores to 7-8. Newport took possession in the final line out but de Rivaz turned the play and was running to goal looking for the equalizer as the final bell sounded. Newport reclaimed the Vanderbilt Cup by one goal. 

The two teams took part in a traditional lap of honour, high fiving the spectators who lined the sides of the field. The match is always played in an incredible spirit and the post match celebrations were fantastic. Many thanks go to the team’s hosts William and Lowie Crisp and the Newport Captain Dan Keeting and his wife Agness for all their efforts organising the tour for the HPC team. Thanks also go to all the Newport players who are incredibly welcoming towards the visiting team. 

HPC looks forward to the Newport team visiting London next season for the home fixture.

The August bank holiday features one of the seasons most important fixtures as the Ham Polo Club team travel to Cowdray Park Polo Club in Sussex for an invitational match. This year the game was played at 6 goal level on one of the countries finest high goal standard grounds Ambersham 1. Cowdray fielded a very strong team that even included a top England international player and the match looked to be hard work for our home side.

Cowdray ran out the winners, however HPC were determined throughout and played to a very high standard. Enormous thanks go to all the Ham supporters who traveled to Cowdray to cheer on the team. Ham Polo Club would also like to thank Cowdray for hosting the match and we hope to see them back at London’s only polo grounds for a reciprocal game next season.