England won the IWPA European Women's Polo Championships 2003 More..

Double Gold for England at the Europeans.

All women polo players from around Europe were invited to enter their National teams into the Rimmel supported IWPA European Women’s Polo Championships which took place at Dallas Burston’s RLS Polo Club alongside the FIP European Zone Championships.

England spent four months selecting their team so that every woman player who wanted to ride out in her national colors had the opportunity. The final short-list of eight was narrowed to four with Natalia Allen being asked to Captain team-mates Sophie Cowley, Louisa Clothier and Laura MacCarthy. Laura took over from a hugely disappointed Kirsty Craig when the team had to drop a goal in handicap after lack of sponsorship prevented 4 other higher level National teams from taking part. Kirsty is England’s only women player to be raised in handicap to 1 goals this year.

The Championships opened with two semi-finals in which the Switzerland Captain, Yasmine Luginbuehl, was not able to rally much defense against England, and a see-saw score between Holland and Ireland finally sent Holland to the final.

Holland’s Fleur Van Andel , was awarded the La Martina Polo Hat for Most Valuable Player, when her breakaway goals secured that victory against Ireland and two more in the opening chukka of the Final against England had the crowd and the England coach, Pippa Grace, extremely nervous. This, when added to Holland’s 1 ½ goal handicap advantage, gave Holland a 3 ½ goal lead at the end of the 1st chukka.

With instruction to stay tighter in defense ringing in their ears the English girls began to close down the Dutch attack and in the second chukka and a crashing ride off by Sophie against Dutch Captain Maria Gemma Huynen appeared to change the spirit of the English Team. It was the third chukka that proved decisive for England with Sophie coming out on a fast grey and taking control of the rhythm of the match. Nat and Sophie began to pile up the goals as England moved into the lead and began to pull away despite strong riding from Dutch back, Natacha Baecher. In the fourth chukka Louisa Clothier worked hard to destroy any hope the Dutch had of reforming an attack and Laura MacCarthy, playing in her debut for England, continued to hold her position at one, running away with the ball every time she received a pass, and adding to England’s final winning tally of 8 against Holland’s 3 ½ . Sophie Cowley’s horse Picena won the Polo Times award for Best Playing Pony.

Ireland’s No 3, the Hon. Georgiana Crofton, led her team to Bronze Medal victory against the Swiss, with Ireland scoring 11 goals to 1. The impact of the coaching from Hugh Dawney so significantly contributed to the Irish team’s success during the Championships that he was called on to assist the Dutch coach Dorothee Huynen during the finals.

There was a historic moment at the award ceremony when FIP representatives from all over the world witnessed the two Gold Medal winning England Teams, the Chairmen of the FIP, Glen Holden, the HPA, John Tinsley, and the IWPA, Pippa Grace all gathering to celebrate victory. It was a great moment for women in the game to be given such an endorsement and the IWPA thanks the FIP and Dallas Burston for their huge support.