The women’s game had its biggest week in America this November. At Tonkawa in Brookshire, Texas, Rocking P beat first-time qualifiers Midland Polo Club 10-2 in the final of the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship on Sunday 11 November, with Hazel Jackson scoring seven of the ten goals.
A wet week at Houston Polo Club
Heavy rain in the build-up forced a few changes. The Open championship began on schedule on Tuesday 6 November, but with more rain forecast the preliminary rounds were played on back-to-back days, and the simultaneous U.S. Open Women’s Handicap was moved into the arena. Houston Polo Club still delivered a smooth tournament, and the polo was fast and competitive throughout.
Rocking P opened with a 6-1 win over Midland, with Kenyan six-goaler Tiva Gross playing her first game with the team. Three unanswered goals in the first chukka set the tone, and Molly Smith got Midland’s only goal. The next day, Rocking P faced San Saba, who had beaten them in overtime in the 2017 final, but San Saba forfeited early in the first chukka after Lia Salvo’s horse tripped and she was unable to continue.
The final
Rocking P had lost the 2017 final to San Saba in overtime, and they made no mistake this time. Their line-up included Jackson, Lottie Lamacraft, Courtney Price and Gross, with 15-year-old Bridget Price, the reigning Handicap champion, splitting a place with her sister Courtney in the first half. Early fouls marred the first chukka. Jackson converted a penalty, and Lamacraft scored a field goal to leave Midland scoreless in the first. Tiamo Hudspeth got one back for Midland, but Jackson kept scoring, and it was 4-1 at half-time.
Midland Polo Club regrouped under their coach Corky Linfoot, with Izzy Parsons creating chances, but Jackson hit three straight goals in the second half. Hudspeth scored once more with a neckshot on the grey mare Pringa, but the final score was 10-2.
Awards
- Most Valuable Player: Hazel Jackson, seven goals.
- Professional Best Playing Pony: Maxima, a chestnut mare owned by Marcos Villanueva and ridden by Jackson in the third chukka.
- Amateur Best Playing Pony: Emma, owned by the Price family and ridden by Courtney Price in the fourth.
Courtney Price said the team had played classic, clean polo, going in pairs and playing a lot of defence to open up the field for Jackson. It worked perfectly. The result is a fine reward for a team that had come close the year before.
Sources: POLO+10 (final), POLO+10 (preview)
