Edinburgh Polo Club Spring Tournament, Day 2
In complete contrast to the Saturday, Sunday dawned grey and cold (or, at least, it was by one-ish), but dry so the completion of the weekend’s play was good to go.
Carrying forward the scores from Saturday, and with the trophies going to the highest goal tally overall, the first series of chukkas on the field was the round-robin, three team match. First on was Edinburgh 1 v Burnfoot, with Burnfoot carrying a three goal advantage into the match. Burnfoot were first on the scoreboard to extend their lead to four goals but Edinburgh rallied late in the match to score two of their own to leave the final score over the two-day, four chukka match at 4-2 to Burnfoot.
Next match on was Burnfoot v Errol Park. Errol Park were first on the scoreboard with a penalty, to take the scoreline to 3 1/2 to 2, before scoring another three goals to none to win their encounter 6 – 2 1/2.
Last match-up of the round-robin match was between Edinburgh and Errol Park, with Edinburgh ahead 4 1/2 – 1 from Saturday. Unfortunately for Errol Park, they were completely outgunned by an Edinburgh team who were really on their game and failed to add to their tally of one goal. Edinburgh, on the other hand, scored another three goals to run out winners of this match and overall winners of the trophy put up by Edinburgh Polo Club with the top tally of 9 1/2 goals in their eight chukkas over the two days.
The other trophy to be won on the day was contested by Kinross and Piddlesheugh, the two winning teams – much easier to comprehend – from the Saturday. This match was a lower handicap standard than the previous matches, but was no less vigorously contested on the field. Kinross started with a half-goal advantage, which they soon added to, and then went on to take a 3 1/2 goal lead before Piddlesheugh came back with one. Adding another, Piddlesheugh were creeping up, but Kinross scored to stay maintain their healthy lead. Another goal gave Piddlesheugh a bit of hope, but Kinross finished them off to take the match 5 1/2 – 3 and win the other trophy up for grabs on the day.
Final match of Sunday’s play was played out for honours alone as Edinburgh 2 took on The Polo Hunks. Although another low handicap match, this one was also played with a great deal of competitiveness and no little skill. The Polo Hunks held a half-goal advantage at the start and in another see-saw match, they eventually finished off Edinburgh 3 1/2 – 2.
That brought to the end a fine weekend of Polo at Dalmahoy. Scottish Polo isn’t played at quite the same level as that further South, but then it is a completely amateur sport up here. Lacking the ‘patronage’ of the stars and celebrities – most of whom would struggle to tell one end of a horse from the other – the huge pay days aren’t there, but then the game and the participants are so much more approachable and open.
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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
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