Cartier International Polo 2010

This year, Cartier International Polo celebrated its 26th anniversary. Watched by a 25,000 strong crowd, it featured a thrilling battle for the Coronation Cup between England and New Zealand. The England team were the glorious victors of the day beating New Zealand by 9 goals to 7.

England, supported by Audi, put on a convincing performance to win the Coronation Cup on Cartier International Day 2010 at Guards Polo Club. They were 6-1 up against the EFG International-sponsored New Zealand team at half-time and, although the visitors rallied in the second half – thrilling the packed grandstands with a goal to level in the sixth – some sharp shooting from the Tomlinson brothers assured England of a 9-7 victory. This win defied the blood chilling traditional Maori Haka on The Queen’s Ground before the game began. 

HRH Prince Charles, accompanied by Arnaud Bamberger of Cartier and Nicholas Colquhoun Denvers of the Hurlingham Polo Association, presented the impressive Coronation Cup to England captain Luke Tomlinson and the Pegasus Trophy for the Most Valuable Player to James Beim. New Zealand captain, John Paul Clarkin, stepped up to receive a couple of prizes: the Donoso Trophy for the most outstanding visiting team and the Best Playing Pony Award for his own Gumboot. This nine-year-old New Zealand-bred bay mare was played by John Paul – known to everyone in the polo world as JP – in the third chukka.

Oliver Cudmore, who had scored the winning goal for the How To Spend It Hurlingham Team in the morning’s Golden Jubilee Trophy match – they defeated the Westbury Hotel/Audi Prince of Wales Team 7-6 – was presented with the Hurlingham Polo Association’s Young Player of the Year trophy.

 Watching the presentation in the Royal Box was an impressive array of Cartier guests, including American actor and keen polo player Tommy Lee Jones, Sir Ben Kingsley, Cat Deeley and Katherine Jenkins.  Katherine was supporting the British Forces Federation, one of the official charities of the day. During the pre match parade some 36 serving personnel from all three Armed services, who have just returned from deployment to Afghanistan, paraded around The Queen’s Polo Ground as part of the charity’s memorable Lap of Honour.

The day concluded with some great dancing in the Chinawhite marquee. Renowned DJ Pete Tong produced an impressive set which inspired even the tiredest of feet.

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Tags: Arnaud Bamberger, Cartier International Polo, Cat Deeley, HRH Prince Charles, Katherine Jenkins, Luke Tomlinson, Pete Tong, Sir Ben Kingsley, Tommy Lee Jones

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