I’m feeling better now. A lovely friend offered me a ticket to “Polo in the Park” as she unfortunately couldn’t make it at the last minute, so I’ve had a fantastic afternoon with a photographer friend of mine eating, drinking and watching polo.
This is the first time in seventy years that The World Polo Series London matches have been held at the Hurlingham Club at Hurlingham Park, Fulham since the pitch was turned over for the “Dig for Victory” campaign during the Second World War.
It featured world class players including Jack Kidd, Henry Brett and Jamie Morrison and included teams from cities across the world. Teams from Moscow, Mumbai, Paris and New York were competing against and alongside the London players. The matches featured new rules that made it a little easier for people like me to follow. It’s such an exciting and dangerous game to watch:-
There was a champagne reception (which we missed owing to the fact we had six children to get rid of first), followed by a three course lunch, followed by afternoon tea and then a bit of polo thrown in and then the bar and then an after show party (most of which we also missed because we had to go and retrieve six children). We met some lovely people and I promised to mention SM and JM two gorgeous 26 year olds who sat next to us during our meal and coped admirably with women old enough to be their mother….
During the time I was busy pretending to be famous and surrounded by some of the finest specimens you will ever hope to meet (I’m not referring to the horses) I wasn’t paying attention to where I was walking and consequently managed to fall over in a spectacularly undignified manner, landing somehow with one arm underneath me and my arse in the air. I now have a grazed knee and a sore wrist.
We spotted a few celebrities and actually got some good photos:-
The gorgeous Jemma and Jodie Kidd:-
Brendan Cole and his fiance Zoe Hobbs:-
A splash of royalty:-
One of my favourite rugby players:-
With a stress injury and very cool choice of colour cast. Which is why he’s not out in South Africa playing with The Lions today:-
When I proudly showed my children my fantastic photos all they said was “MUM! You are SUCH a stalker”. It’s so hard to impress your children these days (although going to Disneyworld on a press trip nearly did it).
Littlemummy
June 6, 2009Wow, all very glamorous, have no idea about polo but the meal sounds good, what did you have?
Fat, frumpy and fifty...
June 6, 2009whoa you rub epaulettes with the top knobs eh??
I just suck polos until they crack.
Di Foden
June 6, 2009I played at the Hurlingham a few times. Not on a horse, I hasten to add, but as part of the entertainment. On one occasion the (very merry)crowd included a couple, her on his shoulders, and we watched mesmerised from the stage as they tottered towards the working ceiling fan.
Ah, happy days. Glad to hear you are feeling better. The healing power of a posh frock and champers.
Exmoorjane
June 7, 2009Flipping heck, all very glamorous and far more so than our local polo field…I don't remotely understand polo but love the ponies and, er, some of the riders are pretty fit too.
Glad you're feeling cheered up.
Wife in Hong Kong
June 7, 2009OMG! That's spitting distance from home. HOME!!
karen
June 8, 2009wow, most impressive! Definitely a mood uplifting experience 🙂
Bush Mummy
June 8, 2009Ooooh how lovely.. I'd LOVE to have gone to that.. gorgeous dishy men, celeb spotting, champagne and delish food all in one gorgeous place. Just what the doctor ordered I should imagine.
Good for you
BM x
Expat mum
June 9, 2009Ooh, I'm more glam than I give myself credit for. I had my wedding reception at the Hurlingham.