A SERIES of polo matches were held at Tedworth park Polo Club on Saturday to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Army Polo Association and the Centenary of the Fisher Polo Ground at Tedworth Park.

Thousands of spectators gathered for an exciting day which began with the Inspire Charity match which pitched Jockeys against eventers and, despite the sterling efforts of the Queen’s granddaughter, Zara Tindall, the jockeys won the day.

The highlight of the day was the annual match between the Royal Navy and the Army, the Rundle Cup. This competition began in Malta in 1910 where it was contested until the closure of Malta as a British base in 1967 and the cup was brought back to the UK and Tidworth.

The match has had many great players, including Lord Mountbatten, Price Charles and both Princes William and Harry. This year’s Army team was captained by Major Paddy Selfe of the King’s Royal Hussars, who flew back from deployment in Estonia on Thursday to take part.

It was, as ever, a hard-fought match, but the Army had the upper hand throughout with a score of nine goals, five of them scored by Paddy Selfe and one by Captain Jessica Wood who serves at Larkhill with HQ Royal Artillery

Quarters completed

Trevor Barker, project manager for Bulford Service Family Homes, accepted the milestone completion certificate for Bulford following the final handovers last Friday.

The final married quarter of the 225-home estate was completed that day, on time and on budget ready for the return of the families from Germany this month.

Paderborn farewell

On Friday, July 5, the city of Paderborn, in Germany, marked the end of its long association with the British Army by hosting a number of events to formally say “Auf Wiedersehen” to the last British Field Army units to be based there.

“Today is a sad occasion, but also a very proud one,” said Brigadier Dom Biddick, Commander 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade, speaking of the Brigade’s time in Paderborn which has been their home since 1992. The brigade and its units have relocated to Salisbury Plain.

By David Falcke