A High Summer Feast at the 'Cartier International' Polo July 1999

Cody Forsyth (in yellow) on right, Will Lucas and Henry Brett in pursuit of the ball

What of those of us not invited to lunch with the rich and famous? It is a day of the picnic - but a picnic with style, complete with the obligatory champagne and strawberries … … Fortunately the weather was glorious and for once not huddling against the cold, the spectators went to town and rarely have I seen such lavish catering on view - other than at Royal Ascot. The hot weather produced a sea of sun hats and sun shades and the crowd certainly made the most of the protracted lunch break.

Eventually the siren called us to our seats for the afternoon's big match - on this occasion between England and Australasia and, not to be outdone by the catering, very exciting and entertaining it was too! It was all about the Coronation Cup, which dates back to 1911 in celebration of the crowning of King George V and was originally contested by army teams, moving from venue to venue until finding its true home at the Guards Polo Club. Nowadays this is the showpiece event of the high-goal season and top players naturally want to be included and respond with a strong competitive edge to their game. Not since 1989 had England played Australia in the match (when England just emerged the victors), although ten years later the team comprised 2 players each from Australia and New Zealand. Many of their ponies were generously supplied by the Ellerston team who had so far dominated the high goal season, so the Australasian team were not at a disadvantage for not having their own ponies; they were very well mounted indeed. Their team comprised Glen Gilmore, Simon Keyte, Mike Todd and Cody Forsyth.

Australasia's Simon Keyte 'on the ball'

Andrew Hine was the new England Captain, supported by Julian Daniels, Henry Brett and Will Lucas. Although Julian Daniels was voted 'Man of the Match', it seemed to be 24 year-old Henry Brett who most inspired the team, in the early chukkas at least. He began the match with a brilliant goal, clearing the ball from some furious play and scoring from 100 yards. Normally a member of the highly successful Pommery team, Henry had broken a leg early in the season whilst playing in Australia, but he must have made a swift recovery because his play was completely uninhibited. In the second chukka, riding his Argentinean mare Malvina, he scored twice more. The first goal came from a furious ride-off down the nearside and a ball dribbled deftly into the goal; and then he broke free from the confusion in front of the opposition's goal to slip in another. Wherever there was action, there was Henry Brett … …

The home side set out to take command of the match from the outset and succeeded, since after the first two chukkas England were leading 3-1 and were dominating the proceedings. Although the play was very exciting, England generally seemed to emerge with the upper hand.

England's Will Lucas and Australasia's Cody Forsyth race for the ball

It was in the third chukka that disaster seemed to strike the Australasian team. Glen Gilmore was forced to dismount, apparently in considerable pain, and the match was halted for a quarter of an hour. It transpired that he had broken an ankle only four weeks prior to the match (afterwards he was walking with the aid of a crutch!) but he had desperately wanted to play for his country, saying that such opportunities present themselves but rarely, and he had forced himself to go through the pain barrier. It seemed that he could not continue and there was much discussion regarding a suitable substitute but, eventually, he remounted, having had his ankle re-strapped, and the game continued. This is definitely not a sport for the faint hearted!

It seemed that fortune was not going to smile on Australasia at all as England scored again and they could only reply once themselves; thus at half-time the score was England 4 and Australasia 2. Upon resumption of the game England wasted no time in pressing home their advantage, with Andrew Hine scoring quickly off a good pass from Julian Daniels … … but Simon Keyte produced a lovely backhand shot into goal and prevented the English from extending their lead further. The game was fast and 'tit for tat', with Lucas scoring another for England. Australasia bravely defended their goal and deflected another likely England score but after much frenetic activity the score stood 7-3 in England's favour.

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