21st August 2008
Watergate Bay Hosts Summer's Last Splash
The UK’s original beach polo event, Veuve Clicquot Polo on the Beach, set for Tuesday 9th September 2008.
A Cornish beach famous for its extreme sports is preparing for the arrival of over 20 thoroughbred polo ponies next month, as Veuve Clicquot Polo on the Beach returns to Watergate Bay.
Two teams, sponsored by property consultancy Knight Frank and construction company Kier Western, will have their mallets at the ready for the four-chukka battle on Tuesday 9th September.
With a mixture of professional and amateur players including a former England international and the polo manager of The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, spectators will be treated to a fast-paced exhibition of arena polo played at a very high standard - in a stunning location on the sand beneath the cliffs at Watergate Bay.
“We’re more used to hosting top-level surfing and kitesurfing competitions than polo matches, but we enjoyed last year’s event so much that we couldn’t resist putting it on again,” said Will Ashworth of The Hotel & Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay.
“Veuve Clicquot Polo on the Beach is all about making polo accessible. Entry is completely free for spectators, so it really is the perfect opportunity to introduce the sport to a new audience and get away from some of the stuffiness and tradition that often goes with polo, without losing any of the glamour.”
Last year’s event at Watergate Bay was the first ever polo match to be held on a British beach and attracted a crowd of more than 1,000 local spectators, surfers and polo devotees to the Cornish venue.
Organisers are hoping that this year’s event will be even more popular, with visitors to the beach able to get extremely close to the ponies and players while the match is in progress.
Spectators will be able to enjoy the wit and wisdom of two expert commentators: Captain Ben Marshall, officer in charge of polo at Sandhurst; and Constantine Bay resident Richard Eldridge, an experienced polo player from the Cowdray Park club.
The Knight Frank team will be made up of Andrew Burgess and Barbara Zingg, who both work as instructors at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Polo Club. They are expected to be joined by Richard Blake-Thomas of Guards Polo Club, who has represented England as a junior.
Players on the Kier Western side all come from the Vaux Park Polo club in Somerset: led by the club’s owner Tim Vaux, a two goal professional player, the team features players of a very high standard.
Playing on the sand at Watergate Bay will see the players face a new set of challenges to the more genteel environment of arena polo.
“None of the ponies will have played on a beach before, so getting them used to the playing surface and surroundings will be the first hurdle,” said Andrew Burgess, from Wadebridge.
“Wet sand will make the ball run quicker than in an arena, but if the sand gets churned up then that won’t be the case, so the players who adapt fastest to the changes in the playing surface as the game progresses will have the upper hand. And the more exposed aspect of the beach makes the weather conditions on the day much more of a factor.”
“From the spectators’ point of view this should be polo at its most exciting. The arena polo pitch is much smaller than in grass polo so it really is end-to-end stuff, and with less room for the ponies to manouevre there will be plenty of jostling and physical contact between the riders.”
For the second year, Veuve Clicquot Polo on the Beach is completely free for spectators at Watergate Bay, who will be able to take advantage of the Veuve Clicquot champagne bar and beach barbeque from 5.30pm, before the teams, Knight Frank and Kier Western, ride out to play the first chukka at 6.30pm.
A limited number of hospitality packages are available at The Hotel, starting at 5.30pm with a champagne and canapé reception with music from the Carrie Mann Jazz Quartet. Guests will be able to watch the match from the elevated position of the hotel’s deck, and the package also includes a barbeque on the pool terrace after the trophy presentation. Ticket holders also gain entry to the post-polo party in the Ocean Room where the Veuve Clicquot will continue to flow, with music from party band Small Wonders.
Hospitality tickets are available from Claire Davies (claire@watergatebay.co.uk or 01637 861239) for £90 per person.
Media/Photo Call
Date: Monday 8th September
Time: 2.00 - 3.00 pm
Location: On the beach, Watergate Bay, Cornwall, TR8 4AA
Contact: Jim Michell - 07899 997336
Event: Photo/filming and interview opportunity with players Andrew Burgess (Wadebridge) and Barbara Zingg (The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst) and the umpire, plus their ponies. PLEASE NOTE: Prompt arrival is advised as to ensure the welfare of the ponies the time they will be able to run on the beach is strictly limited to a maximum of one hour.
ENDS
Images
High resolution print-ready images can be downloaded here.
Notes For Editors
Founded in 1772, Veuve Clicquot has an established history of innovation and creativity. Madame Clicquot was the first woman to run her own champagne house when she took over the business in 1805. She revolutionised the way champagne was made by putting holes in her kitchen table and “riddling” the bottles to clarify the wines. Similarly, Veuve Clicquot’s innovative, daring approach is evident when in 1877 they became the first company to register their unique iconic yellow which is still apparent with Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label today. www.veuve-clicquot.com/ukseason
The Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay is one of Britain’s leading venues for beach sports and events. Founded in 1999, the Extreme Academy comprises specialist schools for surfing, kitesurfing, waveski, stand-up paddlesurf and mountainboarding; technical equipment hire; and the Extreme Store, stocking a wide range of clothing and technical equipment. The Beach Hut, located on the ground floor of the Extreme Academy, is well known as Cornwall’s coolest beach hangout, and a great place to eat. www.watergatebay.co.uk/polo.htm
The Hotel, Watergate Bay has emerged from a £2 million programme of investment as a must-visit beach destination. With the public areas and bedrooms all refurbished in the past three years, the décor is beach house chic throughout. The contemporary modern look, award-winning dining and relaxed atmosphere are only topped by The Hotel’s unbeatable location right on the beach. www.watergatebay.co.uk
Kier Western provides a full range of construction and related services across a broad client base including county and district councils, major property developers, high street retailers, hotel operators and industrial manufacturing companies. Kier Western is part of Kier Group plc, the leading construction, development and services group with an annual turnover in excess of £2bn. With a comprehensive network of offices across the UK Kier Group responds to both local and national opportunities and initiatives, working extensively in partnership on formal joint ventures, frameworks and strategic alliances with blue chip private and public sector clients. www.kier.co.uk
Knight Frank LLP is the leading independent global property consultancy, and specialises locally in new homes, and stunning houses and apartments, throughout Cornwall and Devon. Headquartered in London, Knight Frank and its New York-based global partner Newmark Knight Frank operate from over 165 offices, in 36 countries, in six continents. For further information about the company, please visit www.knightfrank.com
Chukka is a British lifestyle clothing brand for men, women and kids. Inspired by polo the range appeals to people who enjoy clothes that are designed to live and play in. Following on from Chukka’s involvement last year at Veuve Clicquot Polo on the Beach they are once again providing the kit for the two teams and presenting the trophy for the most valuable player. www.chukkaclothing.com
Woof Wear has been designing and producing high quality protective products for equine athletes and riders for over twenty years. In-depth research combined with testing and feedback from riders has helped Woof Wear develop practical, hard-wearing products that work in harmony with both horse and rider to give maximum protection – day-to-day or at top level competition. Woof Wear are presenting the trophy for Best Playing Pony. www.woofwear.com
Media Contact - PR on behalf of The Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay
For more information and images contact: Jim Michell at Barefoot Media.
Telephone: +44 (0)1208 895089 Email: jim@barefootmedia.co.uk |
