Beach polo back with famous names

Jack and Jodie Kidd formed part of one of the six teams

Model Jodie Kidd and boxer Joe Calzaghe have joined some of the world's top polo players for the second beach championships in Dorset.

The two-day British Beach Polo Championships was being held on the Sandbanks peninsula in Poole on Friday and Saturday.

England captain Chris Hyde and Arena Gold Cup Winner Jamie Le Hardy were also among the players.

Ms Kidd was playing alongside her brother Jack and friend Jamie Morrison.

Change horses

They are both respected polo players in their own right and the trio's team was competing against five other teams.

Beach polo, a variation of arena polo, is played over four periods, known as chukkas, which last seven-and-a-half minutes each.

Spectators without tickets can watch the tournament from the beach

There are three players on each team and riders change horses at the end of each chukka.

Beach polo events had only been held in Miami and Dubai before it was brought to Sandbanks last year.

Organisers have said the tournament will return to the site every year until at least 2013.

The exclusive peninsular is one of the most expensive places to live in the world with houses costing an average of almost £500,000.

Johnny Wheeler, from event organiser Sandpolo, said: "The two-day event is designed to entertain everyone from polo supporters through to families who want to watch the action from the beach."