Apes Hill Club

Waterhall Polo

A major element of the Apes Hill community is the magnificent Waterhall Polo Centre, one of the finest of its kind in the West Indies. In addition to giving residents the rare opportunity to observe world-class international polo matches on a splendid field backdropped by the Caribbean Sea, members can also benefit from excellent coaching in this exciting 'Sport of Kings.' Or simply enjoy the club's superb riding facilities.

High Goal Team

Sir Charles Williams, a veteran polo player and sports figurehead in Barbados, is giving British polo a major boost by sponsoring an all-professional polo team. The team is named Apes Hills Club Barbados in honour of the new golf and polo development currently taking shape on the island. Sir Charles and project partner Gerald G. Barton, CEO of Landmark Land Co., are funding the team to the tune of more than $1 million to help promote Apes Hill Club. The sponsorship is the biggest in British polo to date. In a rare twist, Sir Charles, himself a former four-goaler, is not joining the team as a patron but instead is employing four of England's top players.

"I was watching the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup final last year and was so disappointed to see English talent sitting in the stands," said Sir Charles. "Not a single English player made it to the final. I knew then that something should and would be done to get more English players playing the high goal." The stated goal is to create a team that can be competitive at the two most prestigious tournaments on English soil, the Hildon Queen's Cup to be held in June at Guards Polo Club; and the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup at Cowdray the following month.

Luke Tomlinson, arguably England's best player, will captain the team. "We're very proud to be part of Sir Charles's plan," said Tomlinson. "We hope the support, training and attention our team receives will be a benchmark for other corporate sponsors entering the sport."

The team also fields Mark Tomlinson, who joined his brother on seven goals recently; five-goal Tom Morley, who made his senior England debut last summer; and three-goal Ed Hitchman, one of England's best young players. The team, which has yet to settle on a coach, will be based at Beaufort Polo Club.

For more information on high goal polo, please visit: www.beaufortpoloclub.co.uk www.guardspoloclub.com.

Season in Review

Polo 2007 Season in Review

The Apes Hill Club polo team enjoys the team's launch party with Jerry Barton and Sir Charles Williams.

In the 12 months since Sir Charles Williams and Gerry Barton decided to sponsor all-professional, all-England polo team, it's been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. It was always an ambitious project - after all, what else would be expected of the partnership that is developing Apes Hill Club, Barbados?

Anticipation of the team clearly grew with the naming of his four players - Luke and Mark Tomlinson, both on 7 goals, Tom Morley (5) and Ed Hitchman (3). A clever team - Luke and Mark, individually brilliant and in a league of their own together; Tom and Ed, exciting new talents with all the drive and determination youth brings.

Sir Charles invited the players over to Apes Hill in the spring, Tom and Ed joining him in playing - and winning - the final of the Barbados Open. Then while Tom and Ed fulfilled their duties in the 14-goal England side at the European championships in Spain, it was Luke and Mark's turn to be wowed by the Apes Hill Club development.

Having been formally unveiled in a glitzy launch at Wentworth Golf Club in May, members of the press then watched them practicing at home. Affable and dedicated to the game, the boys became media darlings and consequently the Apes Hill Club team became hot property and secured a six page feature in the Times magazine.

At the Queen's Cup the team defeated their first two opponents (Les Lions 2 and Broncos) and fought hard in their third this time, against Lora Piana. It went to extra time, but they missed victory by just a single goal. That Lora Piana went on to win the Queen's Cup in convincing style and that their match against Apes Hill was perhaps their most closely contested of the tournament was some consolation for the competitive side.

But as the rain poured, lady luck appeared to be washed away - Mark Tomlinson injured tendons in his hand to put him out of the saddle for the rest of the season and then Ed Hitchman injured his shoulder during the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup.

Reserves at short notice, mid-season, and with a good swing, are not so easy to find. Despite the hectic schedule, the team battled on, reaching the final of the Argentine Club Cup and with the help of HRH Prince William playing for the team, winning the Calcot Manor Hotel Cup and helping to raise £60,000 for the Countryside Foundation For Education.

"Naturally it's been disappointing to have the two serious injury setbacks midway through the season and not progress as well as we had hoped in the Queens and Gold Cup", says Luke Tomlinson, but adds, "We're still proud of what and who we represent and are looking forward to rewarding Sir Charles's faith more fully in the future."