A pitch-perfect ride: Army polo team denies RAF a third-consecutive Sassoon Cup title
The British Army polo team have won the Sassoon Cup for the first time since 2023 after they won 10-3 over the Royal Air Force.
It was a historic day for the RAF despite the loss, who fielded the first-ever all-female military polo team for this year's Sassoon Cup.
Playing with a newly formed team, the Army conceded the first points to the RAF as the game got underway – with Flight Lieutenant Mimi Figgins knocking in the first goal.
After conceding the first goal, the Army responded in kind with a backward shot from Major Nick Howe to level up the game.
Both teams were evenly matched in the first quarter, to which, come the break, both teams were level on points at 3-3.
When the players and their horses returned, the Army stepped up their pace and Major Jamie Drummond-Moray's goal put the reds up in front – a goal that would later set a precedent for the rest of the game.
As the game went on, the Army continued to slot in their goals with the RAF unable to come up with an answer to the relentless Army attack.
Come the end of the match, the Army appeared as the dominant side with a commanding 10-3 victory over the RAF, who miss out on winning their third-consecutive Sassoon Cup title.
Army captain Major Jamie Drummond-Moray said: "It was a really tough game, credit to the RAF for giving us a hard time in that first few chuckers.
"I think after a slow period, applying the right basic principles in the game, we were able to claw it back and after the last three or four chuckers, we got back and convincingly won."
RAF captain Wing Commander Vicky Woodhead said: "It was a really competitive match, we got on the board first with a quick first goal, and then they [the Army] got themselves together.
"I think we were drawing at half time, and then they just kicked on and had an outstanding second half to, unfortunately, clinch the match for the first time in a couple of years.
"Unfortunately we couldn't get three years in a row, but it was a great match and credit to the Army team who played really well."
Speaking on leading the military's all-female polo team, Wg Cdr Woodhead said: "So polo is a mixed sport and there is a female section, but we're competing in the mixed league.
"It's great that we could come out together today and we selected our four nought-goal players – it's the first time we've done it in Air Force history and I think in the military as well.
"It's really great to see and that all played outstandingly, all up to handicap, so couldn't ask for more really – just unfortunate that we let it get away in the second half."
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