FOUR national teams will be battling for top honours at this summer’s fifth British Beach Polo Championships in Poole.

For the first time since the annual two-day event came to Sandbanks, riders from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales will locking mallets during a closely-fought seaside competition.

Another innovation is a floodlit beach polo exhibition on the opening evening, Friday July 6.

Johnny Wheeler from organisers Sand Polo Events said: “The Asahi British Beach Polo Championships are constantly evolving so we can bring a better and more exciting event to Sandbanks each year.

“We’ve focused on the heart and soul of polo this time, which, as everyone knows, is fast-paced polo and glamorous partying.”

Some of the players were at the launch of the championships at the Sandbanks Hotel, but they will not be the only sports people involved.

Following the success of the beach volleyball showcase at last year’s event, 2016 Olympic hopefuls Jess Grimson and Lizzie Smith will be contenders for the women’s title on the Friday.

The men’s event will take place on Saturday July 7.

Celebrity chef Mark Hix will be cooking for the Sunseeker Hospitality Lounge on Friday.

As well as the beach polo, there will also be a food village, charity fashion show and a charity race between an Audi Q7 and pony in aid of Help for Heroes.

On Saturday,the organisers have pledged to donate £1 to the charity for every pair of white jeans donned for finals day.

Help for Heroes ambassador Neil Heritage, from Poole, was among guests who were attending the launch event yesterday.

The former soldier was injured in Iraq in 2004 and the charity helped fund new sockets for his prosthetic legs.

He now works as a PE teacher at a local school.