INTER-REGIMENTAL CUP FINAL

THE oldest polo competition in the world made a very welcome return to Guards Polo Club this year - and was immediately hailed as one of the greatest finals ever.

The excitment and anticipation which built up before the game was equally matched by some thrilling play on the field.

It was a clash between the Household Cavalry Regiment and Royal Military Academy Sandhurst - and was a far closer game than the final score suggests.

RMAS were without O/C Wales, who had royal duties to fulfil, but the team proved the strength in depth at the Academy through O/Cs Nigel Anderson (0), Quentin Hicks (1), Jack Mann (2) and Philip Kaye (1).

However, they were up against an exceptionally strong side from The Blues and Royals (RHG/D). The team were Capt James de St John Price (-1), Capt Rupert Lewis (1), Lt Ben Vestey (4) and Capt Mark Dollar (2).

"The standard of polo was exceptionally high," said Lt Col Simon Ledger, Chairman of the Army Polo Association, who has commented on every Inter-Regimental Cup final for the past ten years.

"The Household Cavalry Regiment ran out winners by nine goals to four and a half, although the game was much closer than the score suggests."

It fell to Lt Col Ledger to award a special trophy and new polo stick to the player he thought had played the best according to their handicap. The honours went to O/C Philip Kaye who had a great game, with one particular moment catching the judge's eye. On the back-hand, at full gallop, O/C Kaye cleared the ball off his own goal line, knocking it 50 yards to save a certain goal.

Lt Col Ledger said about the day: "We were determined to return this competition to Guards (the first time since the Foot and Mouth crisis four years ago), attract a decent sponsor and stress the importance of Inter-Regimental Cup final which has been going since 1858.

"There was a large crowd and it was a real fun day. I'm thrilled with how things went and we look forward to being back at Guards next year with the Inter-Regimental Cup final and the last game in the Chapple Cup series."