QAF Polo Team led by Prince Abdul Qawi, the Executive Deputy Chairman and Director of QAF Brunei defeated Golazo Polo Team 14-11 to lift the champion trophy of His Majesty's 58th Birthday Celebrations Polo Competition at the Jerudong Polo field yesterday.

The guest-of-honour His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah officially opened the deciding round of the meet between both teams. HRH Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah also witnessed the match where the QAF team displayed one of their best polo performances with some skilful play and agile horsemanship.

Leading 8-5 from the first round in last Friday's match, QAF Team drew first blood through Ardi Hapsoro Hamidjojo with an early goal in the first chukka and

Prince Abdul Qawi added another goal to extend the lead to 10-5.

However Golazo Team continued to put pressure on QAF Team and were rewarded with a goal from Saquib Mawaz Khan in the dying minutes of the first chukka.

In the second chukka, QAF Team added another three goals through Haji Karim, Ardi Hapsoro Hamidjojo and Hamed Khan. But Golazo Team's captain Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Ali gave his team a lifeline when he slotted in a goal for his team to reduce the deficit to 13-7.

The goal sparked off an impressive comeback that saw Golazo scoring three more goals in the third chukka. The goals came from Pengiran Husaini, a penalty goal by Saquib Mawaz Khan and Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Ali.

But the comeback ran out of steam as Hamed Khan scored again to extend QAF lead to 14-10 at the end of the third chukka.

Golazo Team's Saquib Mawaz Khan scored his hat-trick of the day in the last chukka to restore some pride for his team with the final score 14-11.

HRH Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah presented the prizes to the winning QAF team, Golazo team and also to winners of the show jumping and dressage competitions. In the show jumping competition junior category the winner was Farah Li Omar followed by Jessica Murray and Hollie Suddards. The winner of the senior category was Christine Murray, followed by Mohd Nur Arif Md Tonie and Omar Kamel Jumat.

For the senior staff open, Dedy Nurhadi was first followed by Fiva Momongan and Cucu while in the Classic Open, Pg Ahmad Jazmi PAH Jaafar was first, followed by Pg Mohd Raffiee PAH Jaafar and Mohd Hafidzzulah Jumat.

In the Mini Prix, Dk Maria was the winner followed by Nicolas Watson and Dk Maria PHA.

In the dressage competition preliminary open, Hollie Suddards was first followed by Sohie Boller and Yasmeen Omran.

For the Novice class, Flora Watson came out top with Rachel Horas in second place and Pg Mohd Raffiee PAH Jaafar third.

Meanwhile in the medium open, Nicolas Watson was first, followed by Pg Mohd Nasir PAH Jaafar Alam and Dk Maria PHA Rahman. - Borneo Bulletin