Supermodel Jodie Kidd at Poole beach polo (From Bournemouth Echo)

Supermodel Jodie Kidd at Poole beach polo

6:42pm Friday 10th July 2009 in Video News By Steven Smith

SUPERMODEL Jodie Kidd took a back seat as the British Beach Polo Championships kicked off under temperamental skies yesterday.

But the weather held as the spectacle at Sandbanks hoped to trump the success of last year’s inaugural event.

Jodie had been pencilled in to play alongside brother Jack but filming commitments meant she had to watch instead.

She said: “It’s such a fantastic sport. It’s growing massively and this is such a wonderful event, because you get to watch polo in an arena situation.

“You can really understand the sport and see how quick and amazing the horses are and how brilliant the players are.”

Yesterday saw three matches, with teams from Poole Audi, SOS Recruit-ment and Hotel Du Vin among the competitors.

The big event was the England vs South America match. All the games are being repeated today.

Crowds were also wowed by a race between an Audi Q7 car and a polo pony.

Away from the action, guests could enjoy champagne and enjoy music from house music label Hed Kandi as the matches gave way to partying.

Players included England captain Chris Hyde and Arena Gold Cup winner Jamie Le Hardy, while boxer Joe Calzaghe was set to make an appearance.

Jane Blore, from organisers Sandpolo, said: “It’s different from last year; hopefully we have learnt and improved on the event from last year.

“There’s a lot more general public and guests getting a chance to watch the ponies. Everybody wants to be involved in anything like this and it’s a great advert for the Borough of Poole.”