The Stellar Performance arena polo team proved unbeatable in this year’s Arena Gold Cup to claim victory at the first attempt, in a hotly contested match against the Royal Ascot Garage Landrover team.
The Arena Gold Cup is now in its eighth year and is Europe’s most prestigious high-goal winter tournament. Attracting players from all around the world, this year’s final excelled itself, with hospitality and glittering sponsorship making it “the Cartier” of the winter calendar.
The final proved to be an exciting match, and there was barely a moment when more than one or two goals separated the two teams. But Stellar Performance, led by Ellie Grey, held firm to claim the cup.
This made Ellie the first woman to play in the tournament, as well as the first to win the coveted trophy. Chris Hyde’s efforts on pitch won him the accolade of Most Valued Player, while Sally, the pony played by Jonny Good in the second and fourth chukkas won the Best Playing Pony Award.
In the subsidiary final for the Silver Cup, Taste.i breezed through to achieve a comfortable victory over Symbolic Collections.
Teams
R.A.G. Landrover: 1, Simon Holley (1); 2, Jonny Good (7); Howard Smith (7).
Stellar Performance: 1, Ellie Grey (1); 2, Jamie Morrison (6); Chris Hyde (8).
