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7 Jul 08'Pitch Perfect' Preparations For Beach Polo
Preparations are well underway in Poole for Europe's first-ever beach polo tournament.
Sandbanks will play host to the British Beach Polo Championships 
on July 11 and 12 and work is starting to prepare Poole's golden sands for the arrival of top international teams of horses and riders from across the world.
Six teams will compete for the championship over the two-day tournament. Similar events have previously been held only in Miami and Dubai.
Borough of Poole has provided a section of Sandbanks beach to stage the event. A temporary arena will be erected, providing seating and corporate facilities for spectators with tickets, while one side will be open for the public to watch the action for free.
To prepare the perfect pitch in readiness for the action, a top layer of sand is being removed to provide a level playing area. Sea water will also be pumped up on to the sand to make the playing area firm enough for the horses and riders to compete at high pace.
These preparations - and the building of the temporary arena - will mean a section of the beach will be closed to the public from Monday, July 7. It is anticipated that this section of the beach will be open as normal by Thursday, July 17.
Due to national media coverage and increasing public interest, the tournament venue has been moved from its original location at the western end of Sandbanks beach. The event will now be staged on an area of beach close to the promenade approach so as many people as possible can get a view of the action.
Cllr Peter Adams, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure, Borough of Poole, said: "We are extremely excited to be staging Europe's first-ever beach polo tournament here in Poole. Sandbanks' reputation as a world-class beach means it is the perfect venue to host this thrilling sport. The event has already attracted a great deal of interest both locally and nationally and we want to ensure as many people as possible have a chance to enjoy the action."
On Sunday July 13, the arena will stage a beach football tournament featuring teams of young people from Poole's Football FOCUS community project.
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