Harrods has stayed open late at night in the past for private shopping visits by royalty and superstars. But last week it opened early for the CEOs and board directors of the City, as they gathered for the 2008 City Polo Championships, to be served breakfast in the store’s Georgian Restaurant. Further enlivened by mini bottles of Champagne Pommery, the 350-strong crowd piled into five Routemaster buses and were driven to the privately owned lawns, Coworth Park in Berkshire.

On arrival the first match of the day, a battle for the Plate Cup, was played by ING Real Estate against bankers Mirabaud & Cie. Patrick Lowther’s team delivered what commentator Ebe Sievwright declared a ‘comprehensive win’ against Kim Richardson’s team, Mirabaud & Cie.

During lunch, Marcus Brigstocke, the Radio 4 broadcaster and stand-up comedian, was joined onstage by Glen Gilmore, captain of the Australian polo team, to explain the rules of polo. The extent of Marcus’s knowledge of the real king of sports was revealed when he asked if a chukka was a term of endearment…!

The Finals was a nail-bitingly close match between Barclays and investment managers Millennium Global Investments with commentators, BBC’s Matt Chilton and Glen Gilmore, becoming increasingly excited by the game. At full-time, the score was 8-8. In extra time the ‘sudden death’ goal was scored by Millennium’s Young England player, Max Charlton. Glen Gilmore and Robert Allton of Coworth Park called it “the most exciting four-goal match we’ve ever seen”. David Lewis, captain of the winning Millennium team, was breathless after the match: “It was one of the fastest games I’ve ever played, which makes it an even more gratifying victory.”

Over tea and scones, the last match of the day, the Subsidiary Finals, was played valiantly by Merrill Lynch Private Bank/Stapleford Park against natural resources broker Fox-Davies Capital.

Simon Jacot de Boinod of City Championships said: “To have so many people enthuse about the day is very rewarding. The financial community love the competition and the chance to entertain their clients. Congratulations to David Lewis and Michael Huttman’s Millennium team!”