POLO: International Ladies Tournament at Cirencester this week (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester hosts month-long celebration of the best in polo

6:00am Thursday 26th July 2012 in Sport

CIRENCESTER PARK Polo Club is this week hosting its inaugural International Ladies’ Tournament.

The competition will form part of the Cirencester Polo Festival, a month-long celebration of excellent polo in the Park.

The ladies’ event which began yesterday (Wednesday) will culminate on Sunday with the International Ladies Final.

The tournament has a team handicap limit of four goals and has attracted a competitive field, including Nina Clarkin, Britain’s highest-rated female player.

International players from New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and, of course, the UK will take part. There is also a visiting African team, Africa Blue.

The International Ladies’ Tournament is sponsored by Cotswold Airport at Kemble where the inaugural Best of British Show will be held on August Bank Holiday to celebrate all that is iconic about Britain.

Other key dates at the Festival of Polo in Cirencester are: Saturday ,August 4: The Gloucestershire Cup 26-Goal Final. Another new tournament for 2012 and the highest-rated competition in the UK this year.

Home team Cirencester Park (25 Goals) will take on 26-Goal team El Remanso at 2pm.

Sunday, August 5: The Jerudong Trophy - an exhibition charity match.

Sunday, August 12: The Warwickshire Cup Final – the most historic high-goal tournament in the county if not the UK, and this year backed for the first time by Bledisloe House.

The Warwickshire Cup attracts teams from across the country and abroad.

It was first contested in 1913 and moved to Cirencester in 1960 in order to stage a high-goal tournament.

Day tickets to polo at Cirencester Park cost only £5 for Over 15s, which allows the use of member’s restaurant and tearooms. A car and its occupants will be admitted to the ground for just £20.