IT WAS the start of the tenth annual Sandbanks Beach Polo event yesterday.

The polo ponies, players and spectators all enjoyed glorious sunshine for the first day of the event - which finishes later tonight.

The gates opened at 1pm, then some of the sport’s top players battled it out on the sand as the first of four polo matches over the two days got underway at 3pm.

As well as high-speed polo matches guests could watch beach volleyball.

Then in the evenings the marquees merged to form one big party area.

Poole-based property specialists Link Homes are the new title sponsors for this year's championships.