Katie Price at Cowdray for Gold Cup polo
Posted by Jerry Lee | Under Uncategorized Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
Celebrities Katie Price was among the stars who flocked to Cowdray yesterday (Sunday, June 22) for the Gold Cup polo tournament.This is the fifth year of the Pro-Celebrity Polo Day, but the first year that Cowdray Park has played host to the event.
“I have been working for the charity for just over a year and it is an amazing charity to work for,” said event organiser, Catherine McIlwraith.
“We help injured riders in all sorts of ways, like helping them to get physiotherapy, for example,” she said.
“We have had people who have been severely injured and we help them in any way that we can.”
Four teams took part in the Pro-Celeb tournament, sponsored by Food Furniture, Translloyd, Group Clean and Asian Woman.
In the final between Group Clean and Asian Woman, Richard Dunwoody pulled off a cracker of a goal for his team Group Clean.
It was played with such force that he was thrown from his saddle. No serious injuries were sustained and after he dusted himself off, Group Clean went on to win the celebrity tournament.
Although not part of the winning party, Katie Price was probably the most popular celebrity to play – she received roars of support from the crowd and one spectator even offered to donate £500 to the charity if he could have her shirt.
The former glamour model, known as Jordan, was in good spirits at the prize-giving ceremony; she playfully pouted for a picture with Lord Sebastian Coe, who was handing out the awards, and, in Formula One style, shook up her champagne prize to shower over her team mates.
Ms McIlwraith was pleased that the event had received so much support from volunteers, Cowdray staff, and the celebrities themselves. And the sunshine was an added bonus.
“We were worried about the weather but it has been fantastic,” she said.
“Somebody up there is looking down on us I’m sure.”
Last year £36,600 was raised for the fund through the event and she was optimistic that it could be even more this year.
Although a persistent breeze sent some picnic plates flying, the sun continued to shine later in the day for the Midhurst Town Cup sponsored by Aspinal of London who are based just outside Midhurst.
Team Talandracas took home the cup after beating Atlantic Capital 16-12 in the six-Chukka match.
Yesterday’s sunny weather was in stark contrast to the same day last year when torrential rain forced Cowdray Park Polo Club officials to cancel the Midhurst Town Cup, the first match of the tournament.