Final of Barbados Polo Open is a Thriller
The huge crowd which assembled at Waterhall Polo Resort on Sunday 18 March, 2007 enjoyed a magnificent climax to the Colombian Emeralds Barbados Polo tournament. There was end to end action throughout the match and the result was in doubt right up to the final horn.
Despite the family tie, it was a case of each man for himself on the field as captains, Sir Charles Williams (Team Courtesy Garage) and his son Teddy (Team Virgin Atlantic) led their teams in swashbuckling style.
Honours were even at the end of the first chukka after goals from Danny Atwell (Virgin) and Ed Hitchman (Courtesy). Tom Morley and Jamie Dickson got their names on the Courtesy score-sheet in chukka two while Malcolm Borwick got one back for Virgin.
The third chukka got under way with the match nicely poised at 3-2 in favour of Courtesy but Morley then began to demonstrate why he is considered to be one of the best young polo players in England. His two magnificent goals were complemented by another from Dickson.
Borwick then struck for Virgin and the third chukka ended with Courtesy enjoying a healthy lead of 6-3. But far from waving the white flag, Virgin launched attack after attack in the final chukka, leading to goals from Teddy Williams and young star Marc Atwell.
Sir Charles Williams may not have contributed to his side’s score-sheet but he was a pillar of strength in defence throughout the match and was instrumental in preventing Virgin from scoring an equaliser in the dying moments of the encounter. The match ended 6-5 to Courtesy and the crowd went home feeling both exhausted and exhilarated.
Article by Julian Armfield, BBC World Service Sport, reporting for Totally Barbados
