Perrier Jouët Women's World Championship 2001

Tuesday 24th

Great news for the IWPA and a big surprise too - the four selected English ones for the IWPA team beat the big sticks from Argentina, France and Germany playing for American Airlines 7 1/2 to 4. Mumy Bellande was brilliant but the four 1 goalers combined more effectively as a team to take a first round victory. The surprise came with the early 3 goal lead taken by Altamira with the world's newest 2 goaler - Sherri-Lyn Hensman from Zimbabwe playing well with Marianela Castagnola but they were defeated by the experience of Claire Tomlinson with her daughter Emma and Millie Scott all on 2 goals converting several penalties in the 4th Chukka for BAT leaving the score at BAT 6 vs Altamira 4 1/2.
 

Wednesday 25th
2.30 Perrier Jouët vs American Airlines
4.30 BAT vs RCM&D
 

Another great day for the Perrier Jouet Women's World Championships. The Press and Sponsors enjoyed a day of learning to play polo with Current World 3 Day Event Rider, Blyth Tait in aid of SPARKS and sponsored by Toggi. The Perrier Jouet Team fought hard against American Airlines with Mumy Bellande and Paola Martinez once again having a superb day but Caroline Anier and Victoria Grace squeezed a narrow half goal victory at 51/2 to 5 to take the Toggi Trophy. In the second game a run-away win for BAT against RCM&D surprised the Riggs and Gompf families who had flown all the way from the US to watch their collegiate all-star daughters, Melissa and Sarah, play. The three 2 goal player strength of BAT proved too much and the final score was 8 to 1 ½.

Thursday 26th

Day Three of the Perrier Jouët Women's World Championships saw the two all one goal teams, RCM&D and IWPA – All England get beaten by Altamira and Perrier Jouët respectively. Spectacular play from Marianela Castagnola and Tamara Vestey for Altamira in the first game made life very tough for RCM&D's Jolie Liston whose constant efforts were outstanding. Their final score was 8 goals to 2.
 

In the second game Caroline Anier and Victoria Grace showed some unbelievable skill and Jodie Kidd made the difference with excellent attacking play – her game has improved enormously since her team won the event last and she is worth far more than her –1 rating. Their fourth team-mate, Stephanie Powers was giving her all which wont necessarily have helped her for the 8 goal that followed for her and Victoria. The IWPA girls Claire Young, Sophie Cook, Nat Redpath-Allen and Lucy Taylor worked brilliantly once again as a team and in the first chukka had three extra scoring opportunities which sadly went wide – the nerves of this young team got the better of them and it gave Caroline and Victoria the extra space they needed to take the score to 8 goals to 4.
 

7.30 pm The IWPA fundraising ball at the Savoy

Friday 27th

A day off for all the teams at the Foxhills Spa.

Saturday 28th
So the Winners are…… what a week of awesome women's polo – the top women from around the world showed incredible skill as they battled it out on finals day for the Perrier Jouet Women's World Polo Championship.
 

In the first match of the day, the Ascot Park Plate, played in the perfect morning sunshine, American Airlines took the field on the number one ground at Ascot Park against the combination of US collegiate all-stars Melissa Riggs (1) and Sarah Gompf (1) playing with Argentine Maria Chavanne (1) and IWPA Woman Player of the Year, Jolie Liston (1). Paola Martinez (2) and Mumy Bellande (3) once again played brilliantly for American Airlines with assistance from German, Dagmar Lauterbach (0) and French-woman, Mireille Solarz (0). The young US players seemed to have finally found their form and were in the lead for the entire game until the final seconds when Paola had a penalty opportunity. Sadly her high lofted shot went wide and the enthusiastic crowd thought it was all over for them but the play turned quickly from the backline hit out and it was Paola who put through the winning goal taking the score to 5 goals to 4 1/2 .

Victoria Grace with Mumy Bellande in hot persuit

The Elysium Cup was the hard fought second match between the IWPA – All England Team with Lucy Taylor (1), Nat Redpath-Allen (1), Sophie Cook (1) and Claire Young (1) and the Altamira team captained by Tamara Vesty (2), playing with Zimbabwe Open winner, Sherri-Lyn Hensman (2), Marianela Castagnola (1) (MVP) and Rafaella Agosti (-1) from Switzerland. Altamira quickly took the lead with Marianela all over every play making some fabulous attacks but once again on the final bell there was a change in the lead with the IWPA coming out victorious 5 goals to 4. Lucy captained her team brilliantly and was excused prize giving in favour of a Robbie Williams concert in Manchester.
 

After a fabulous lunch in the Marquee, commentator Jim McTaggart raised nearly £5,000 for the beneficiaries SPARKS and the IWPA in an impromptu auction, where the largest bid was made for an exotic trip with the Elysium Club. Play resumed with the Perrier Jouët Women's World Championship Finals between British American Tobacco, captained by Emma Tomlinson (2) playing with her mother Claire (2), fellow British 2-Goaler Millie Scott and New Zealander Sue Hodgson (-1). This unbeaten team took an early lead against the Perrier Jouët Team of Victoria Grace (2), World Number 2 Caroline Anier (4), Stefanie Powers (-1) and Jodie Kidd (-1). Emma was 'on fire' in the 3rd Chukka when BAT did most of the damage. She was riding the Best Playing Pony, Quantum, which is also playing on International Day for her brother, Luke. The fourth chukka at last saw goal scoring opportunities for Perrier Jouët via Jodi, MPP who played well over her –1 goal handicap throughout the tournament, and Caroline bringing the final score to 7 goals to 2 ½. New Zealand High Commissioner Paul East joined Elizabeth Phillippe from Perrier Jouët to present the prizes.
 

Finals Action with Emma Tomlinson taking Victoria Grace away from the boards

This world championships has been a great success, not only for the players in the tournament but women players worldwide. Press attention has been huge. One woman player travelled from Singapore to present her group of women players to founding chairman of the IWPA, Pippa Grace, who conceived this event and with the help of her family and everyone at Ascot Park has made it the most important event in the world today for women in polo.

PERRIER JOUET
Jodie Kidd (-1) (UK)
Caroline Anier(4) (FRA)
Victoria Grace (2) (UK) (1999 IWPA Woman Player of the Yr)
Stephanie Powers(-1) (US)
 

BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO
Sue Hodgson (-1) (NZ)
Emma Tomlinson (2)(UK) (1999 WWC MVP)
Claire Tomlinson(2) (UK)
Millie Scott (2) (UK)
 

AMERICAN AIRLINES
Mireille Solarz (0) (French)
Dagmar Lauterbach (0) (German)
Mumy Bellande (3) (ARG) (Jnt. No. 3 in the World)
Paola Martinez(2) (ARG)
 

RCM&D
Melissa Riggs (1) (US)
Maria Chavanne (1) (ARG)
Sarah Gompf(1) (US)
Jolie Liston(1) (US)
 

IWPA ALL-ENGLAND
Natalia Redpath-Allen (1) (UK)
Claire Young (1) (UK)
Lucy Taylor (1) (UK)
Sophie Cook (1) (UK)
 

ALTAMIRA
Raffaella Agosti (2) (Switzerland)
Tamara Vesty (2) (US)
Marianella Castagnola (1) (UK)
Sherri-Lyn Hensman (2) (Zimbabwe)

ITINERARY FOR THE WEEK

Saturday, 21st
a.m./p.m. Team Practices, Try Horses

Sunday, 22nd
a.m. Team Practices, Try Horses
3.00 p.m. Gold Cup Cowdray Park, 2 High Goal Matches. Dress: Elegant Casual
9.00 p.m. Gold Cup Ball, Cowdray Park. Dress: Black Tie

Monday, 23rd
11a.m. Press Launch in London Dress: Whites and La Martina Team Shirts

Tuesday, 24th
2.00 p.m. IWPA vs American Airlines
3.30 p.m. BAT vs Altamira followed by Afternoon Tea
 

Wednesday, 25th
10.30 a.m. Press & Sponsors Learn to Play Polo Day
12.30 p.m. Challenge Match for New Players
2.00 pm Perrier Jouet vs American Airlines
4.30 p.m. BAT vs RCM&D followed by Afternoon Tea
 

Thursday, 26th
12.00 noon Altamira vs RCM&D
2.00 p.m. IWPA vs Perrier Jouet followed by Afternoon Tea

7.30 p.m. IWPA Fund Raising Ball - Reception, Dinner & Dancing. Dress: Black Tie

Friday, 27th
Day at Foxhills Spa for all the Players
 

Saturday, 28th
10.00 a.m. Ascot Park Finals for 5th and 6th
11.30 a.m. ELYSIUM TROPHY for the Subsidiary Final
12.30 p.m. Perrier Jouet Reception begins
Lunch is served followed by Afternoon Tea
2.30 p.m. Final Game for the Winners of the PJWWC 2001
4.00 p.m. Prize presentation
 

Sunday, 29th
11.00 a.m. Cartier Day reception at Wood Hall & depart for Cowdray Park Polo Club. Picnic lunch and 2 high goal Matches. Dress: Elegant Casual

Monday, 30th
a.m./p.m. International Players depart.
 

THE EVENT
A perfect week to be in England watching and playing Polo.
The PJWWC 2001 will be officially launched at a Press conference on Monday, 23rd July. Visiting International Players and sponsors are invited to spend the day together at the final of Lord Cowdray's Veuve Cliquot British Open Gold Cup on Sunday afternoon before Monday morning's ceremony introduces them to the world's press. The 10.30 a.m. reception, hosted by the tournament sponsors, at the landsdowne club, is expected to be attended by social, sporting and sponsor relevant press contacts. There will also be a rare photo oppotunity on horseback in Berkeley Square. All sponsors are encouraged to invite press to this event. Other guests and VIPs will include polo enthusiasts from the world of stage and screen, the fashion catwalk, the music industry and the international sporting arena. At 11am - Pippa Grace, Chairman of the IWPA, the Perrier Jouet Representative and the SPARKS representative will make a speech, the players will be introduced and the Draw for the tournament will be announced by the chairman of the IWPA.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday will each feature two PJWWC 2001 tournament games with a press and sponsors learn to play polo day being hosted at Ascot Park on the Wednesday. All sponsors are encouraged to send representatives and to invite press to join those that the event's promotional team will be inviting to try the sport. Sponsors are offered the opportunity to host their own private learn to play day for up to 90 people if preferred. Numbers anticipated for the Press & Sponsors learn to play polo day are approximately 50 and the PJWWC 2001 Sponsor's Team will be playing the feature match on the press day against one of the other sponsored Teams. Two other sponsored teams will be playing on that day. All sponsors are encouraged to have their banners and signage in place on the day and the main marquee will already be in place for internal dressing. Lunch will be served in the marquee. During each of the mid-week matches players and their sponsors and guests are invited to enjoy afternoon tea in the marquee.

Thursday evening's International Women's Polo Association Scholarship Fund-Raising Ball will be held at the Savoy. Attendance of polo patrons and international woman players, guests and celebrities is expected to total 200. It will be a beautiful, black-tie ball with a polo theme including various types of fund raising entertainment. The champagne reception will begin at 7.30 p.m. followed by a fabulous dinner and dancing. Last year's event was hosted by the Ham Polo Club and Polo Players enjoyed a few 3 a.m. chukkas on the Dodgem Cars. Sponsors will be invited to attend, display promotional literature, be included in auction, raffle & table prizes and will be thanked in the special promotional programme of the evening.

Friday is a day off for the players with Foxhills sponsoring a day for each of them at their wonderful spa.
 

Saturday is Finals Day. Crowds of up to 2,000 will be admitted to Ascot Park Polo Club with either a lunch ticket inviting them to the reception, lunch and afternoon tea in the field-side Marquee or a Car Pass inviting them to picnic beside the field. Each will be handed a Commemorative Glossy Programme and a sheet announcing the order of play. Sponsors will have the opportunity to advertise and possibly to receive some editorial in the magazine. This magazine will also be an official year book for Ascot Park and will be distributed to polo players and newcomers to polo throughout the UK and the US. Games will commence at 10.00 am and prize giving for all 3 matches will be at 4.00 p.m. Various trophy sponsors will join the tournament sponsor's representative in presenting the prizes. All sponsors are invited to display banners at the event and to provide table and team prizes. There will be a series of non-polo fund raising activities for SPARKS and games going on around the main marquee. Children are encouraged to attend and provided for with a marquee of toys and there will be continuous pony rides. The event is an elegant one but with an informal and exclusive "country/sporty-style" atmosphere. There is very subtle security and sponsors are encouraged to take tables in the main 150 foot long field-side marquee. Tickets are £65 for a lunch ticket and £10 for a car ticket, which does not include lunch. The 3-course waitress served lunch includes a pre-lunch Perrier Jouet Champagne, wine and water. Full Bar service will also be available. After event celebrations with the Players will continue in the marquee.

Sunday will be a day off for the players with the opportunity to watch four top International and UK teams play at the International Day being held at Cowdray Park this year. A picnic under the trees beside the ground will be arranged for all the visiting International Players and their team-mates. The polo begins at 11.30 and champagne will pop at 11.00 with lunch between the matches and the second game finishing at about 4.00 p.m. Special stand tickets can be also be arranged for sponsors.

The handicap range of the Women's World Championship is 4 to 5 goals. The highest handicapped women's tournament in the world. Any woman player or sponsor is welcome to enter a team. The IWPA is co-ordinating all the teams. The entry fee is 1,500 pounds sterling or $2,500 and there will be a minimum of 3 four chukka matches. Ascot Park will provide the opportunity for team practices in advance of the tournament. In addition to entry fees, costs associated with entering a team can include; Horse Hire (£100/ch), Team Shirts and associated logoed apparel/equipment, Flights, Accommodation (B&B £45/night), Car Hire (approx.£300/wk), Tickets to Gold Cup (£35), Cartier Day (£35) and the IWPA Ball (£90). To minimise the costs to individual players and playing patrons, sponsors are being sort for example American Airlines have very kindly agreed to sponsor the flights of some of the top ranked international players. La Martina has also agreed to become one of the Tournament Sponsors and is providing all the teams with their beautifully designed shirts, jackets, caps and bags.