POLO ponies and the razzmatazz of beach polo will be back on Sandbanks beach for the seventh year on July 11 and 12.

The Asahi British Beach Polo Championship will see some of the best arena polo players competing for the honours.

Teams representing England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales will be thundering up and down the sandy arena, with England keen to retain the title after a gripping final against Wales last year.

The spectacular spectator sport, played on the Blue Flag beach, brings the best out of players and guests infront of a large and enthusiastic crowd.

Thoroughbred ponies and high goal players thrill to the unusual scene of playing yards from the sea, with excitement and glamour on and off the pitch.

Jack Kidd, a regular for England at the championships, said: “I have been lucky enough to play polo all round the world – Sandbanks is still one of my favourite weekends of the year.

“The polo is insanely competitive, the guests are always on great form and the beach parties well – they are simply the best.”

To complement the polo there will be a host of other activities such as “have a go polo”, the Oakley Ladies Beach Volleyball, the charity Audi vs Polo Pony race and a retail village, as well as the evening parties.

Organiser Johnny Wheeler said the reason the championships kept returning to Poole was obvious.

“A co-operative council and a large, stunning, easily-accessible beach are the vital ingredients for us as event organisers,” he said.

“Some good weather, the best polo players and an enthusiastic crowd is pretty important too.”

For more information go to sandpolo.com