Hildon Sport team wins the ultimate prize in polo (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Hildon Sport team wins the ultimate prize in polo

MEMBERS of Hildon Sport, a West Country-based polo team, wrote their names in the history books yesterday when they lifted the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup at Cowdray Park in front of a packed crowd of 18,000.

Hildon, which consisted of Gloucestershire players Nina Vestey, Mark Tomlinson, Luke Tomlinson and John-Paul Clarkin - who comes from New Zealand but is based in the county - overcame Labegorce 6-5 to claim what is the ultimate prize in English polo.

Having narrowly knocked out the Queen's Cup winners and favourites Dubai in the semi finals, Hildon were hotly tipped after beating Labegorce in the group stages of the tournament.

Although Hildon went into the last chukka with a 6-5 advantage, Lagegorce was still piling on the pressure.

Some outstanding defensive work from Hildon kept their opponents at bay for the score to remain unchanged at the final whistle, in what was a particularly low-scoring match.

"It's a huge achievement to win such a prestigious tournament with such a young team," said Luke Tomlinson, who will be playing for England in the Cartier International next week.

He continued, "It was incredibly tense out there and the game could have gone either way in the last chukka.

"It's been a great team effort, both amongst the players and the support team who have made today possible."

Nina Vestey, playing at number 1, became the first female player to reach and win a final in the tournament's 47-year history.

"Having lost heavily against Lagegorce in the Queen's Cup and just beaten them earlier in this tournament, we always knew it was going to be tough call," explained Nina.

She added, "I don't think it's really sunk in yet as to what we have done today. I am sure it will over the next couple of days though."