Cirencester International Ladies Final

Stobart 8½ Goose Creek 6

STOBART defeated Goose Creek in heavy rain to regain the Cirencester International Ladies Tournament on Ivy Lodge at Cirencester Polo Club.

The trophy had slipped out of Katie Jenkinson’s team’s grasp in 2014 when they were beaten by Wild Orchid, but with a new line-up, including last year’s opposition Nina Clarkin and Lottie Lamacraft, the white shirts of Stobart were back on top of the podium in 2015.

Goose Creek, led by America’s Maureen Brennan had the stronger start and remained in the lead until the third chukka, but the grit and determination of the highest rated lady player Clarkin, backed up by a great game from Lamacraft, later named Most Valuable Player (MVP), gave the Stobart ladies the edge they needed to lift the trophy 8½-6.

The beautiful trophy was presented by Suzannah Harvey from Cotswold Airport, who sponsored the tournament.

The game was played under the new ladies' handicaps, established by the Hurlingham Polo Association this year.

It was also the first year the tournament formed part of the Women’s Championship Tournament (WCT) league.

Executive polo manager Tim Keyte said: "I'm delighted with how the tournament ran and we will continue to push the boundaries in women’s polo.

"It’s really exciting to see ladies' polo develop and Cirencester will continue to be at the forefront of this in the UK."

The subsidiary plate final followed, and after a round robin, Foxcote emerged as the winners.

Sunday sees the Doug Brown Cup final take place on Meadow at 3pm followed by the Edmund Gruber Cup at 4.30pm.

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