2. Introduction
The sport I have chosen to examine in my national study is Polo. I play competitively in Local and
National tournaments and am a member of the Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA). (See
appendix 1). In this essay I will examine the provision available moving from first level elite onto
National Selection Level.
Entering and Progressing in Polo
In the UK there are three main avenues for students to enter the sport of Polo:
1. Through a school or University team such as Cheltenham College or Oxford University. I
was privileged to have been captain of the only state school Polo Team in the UK; St
Bartholomew’s School, Newbury. (see appendix 2)
54 schools play polo and 27 Universities compete in the SUPA competitions. These are
regulated by Schools and Universities Polo Association (SUPA). (www.supa.org.uk ) (see
appendix 3).
2. Through the Pony Club - over 500 members and young entrants.
(www.pcuk.org/Disciplines/Polo )
3. Through a private club such as Cowdray Park Polo Club. (www.cowdraypolo.co.uk ) (see
appendix 4)
The Role of a Governing Body
HPA is the governing body of Polo in the UK and Ireland. It is responsible for the regulations and
rules under which the game is played. The HPA is responsible for supporting players moving onto
Elite representation and professional contracts.
The Role and Function of Academies
The UK has 6 Polo Academies one of them being Ascot Park Polo Academy
(www.polo.co.uk/polo_school.htm ). This is the largest Polo Training Academy in the world with a
range of world class facilities and a range of tuition to cater for all levels of player from the
amateur non-rider to the professional National Standard player. All academies in the UK are
private.
Talent Identification and Scouting
The HPA oversees all handicapping in the UK and Ireland. Each player is handicapped from -2 to
10. Talent identification can occur as talented players receive a higher handicap.
Players will not be able to compete in high level cups nor will they receive a recognised handicap
if they are not affiliated to HPA.
Talented individuals are also identified when they play in University and Schools Championships.
Whilst there are no ‘professional’ talent scouts, HPA officials, coaches and team captains will
identify talented players by observing them at matches and through social contacts players are
promoted. Once identified, players will be invited to play trial games at the senior cup level.
Polo at a National Level
The level above the Universities cups is the Young England Team. (see appendix 6). England
Selectors identify players at randomly selected tournaments and invite these to take part in trials
which culminate in the top players being invited to play for Young England (under 18s) and then
hopefully onto the full senior national side of England.
When players make the transition from Young England to England National Team it is a
significant step since the England players turn from amateur to professional status and dedicate
their time entirely to the sport of Polo.
3. Schemes, Funding and Sponsorship
There are few opportunities to enter the game of Polo
through voluntary or public means thus the privately
funded route is the only realistic option.
Polo is also one of the fastest growing sports in the UK
and international matches are now televised on SKY
Sports. This increased interest has created more
sponsorship as sponsors view it as an opportunity to gain
publicity, examples include crew clothing
(www.crewclothing.co.uk )
Limited corporate sponsorship (see appendix 7) is
available for gifted players. La Martina
(www.lamartina.com ) sponsors a number of events,
teams and individual players across the world such as The
Queens Cup at Guards Polo Club. (see appendix 8)To
gain personal sponsorship you have to be scouted at an
event, or put forward by your coach and club.
At the England Level all players are professional as is the
case with The Guards Polo Club (www.guardspoloclub.com ) who receives financial backing in
the form of sponsorship from Cartier (www.cartier.com ).
More often aspiring Polo players will use their club as the sponsor. The club in turn will seek
funding from external sources, predominantly commercial companies or governing bodies funding
through HPA.
UK Sport is responsible for distributing public investment raised by the National Lottery. UK Sport
has redefined the terms under which funding and support will be provided. It will operate a World
Class Performance Pathway at three key levels:
World Class Podium
World Class Development
World Class Talent
Polo players can apply for a grant from UK Sport. Riders who are aged between 14 and 30 (on
first application) and who see themselves as having the exceptional talent have the opportunity to
be assessed through a three stage process.
The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) (www.tass.gov.uk ) is a Government funded
programme that represents a unique partnership between sport and higher and further education.
With 2012 Olympics approaching TASS are supporting the Olympic sports, polo however is not
an Olympic sport therefore doesn’t receive TASS funding.
Polo in the context of Gender and Disabilities
Polo is open to both genders however, at a higher level; men and women's teams tend to
compete separately.
Women represent one of the largest growing sectors of Polo today. In 1989 The International
Women's Polo Association (IWPA) was formed to promote Polo for women since then it has
grown and now has representatives in 31 countries worldwide. (www.polo.co.uk/iwpa ) (See
appendix 9)
Developmental pathways are identical and when a performer reaches Elite Professional status
training still remains mixed. Both the England and England Ladies team train at the Beaufort Polo
Club.
4. Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 prevents the discrimination of disabled people in
sport. Competitive Polo is not available to individuals with severe physical disabilities and it is
down to individual clubs to make provision for performers with disabilities to take part.
Critical Analysis
I think the current pathway for development in polo is old fashioned and resistant to change this is
holding back potential talent as it is difficult for a young player to be noticed unless they are in the
right social groups. There is no clear, direct pathway or set up for talent identification within the
sport therefore players have to rely on the unpredictable social scouting within the sport. Access
to sponsorship and funding is improving shown through SKY Sports sponsorship of England test
matches. I think that in the future HPA will improve there talent pathways and this will help to
improve the sport.
Word Count: 1,009 (excluding titles and appendices)
References / Bibliography
Hurlingham Polo Association Website
www.hpa-polo.co.uk
Polo Times Website
http://www.polotimes.co.uk
Riding for the Disabled Association Website
http://www.riding-for-disabled.org.uk
La Martina Website
http://www.lamartina.com
Schools and Universities Polo Association Website
http://www.supa.org.uk
The Times Website
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article2176375.ece
The Pony Club Website
http://www.pcuk.org
Cowdray Park Polo Club Website
http://www.cowdraypolo.co.uk
Ascot Park Polo Academy Website
http://www.polo.co.uk/polo_school.htm
Kirtlington Park Polo Club Website
http://www.kirtlingtonparkpolo.co.uk
The International Women's Polo Association Website
http://www.polo.co.uk/iwpa
The Guards Polo Club Website
http://www.guardspoloclub.com
Cartier Website
http://www.cartier.coAppendices
5. Appendices
Appendix One – The Hurlingham Polo Association
Appendix Two – St Bartholomew’s school
Appendix Three – Schools and Universities Polo Association
Appendix Four – Cowdray Park Polo Club
Appendix Five – SUPA’s fixtures list
Appendix Six – Young England
Appendix Seven – Commercial Sponsors
Appendix Eight – Queens Cup Guards
Appendix Nine – Women’s Polo
6. Appendix 1
The Hurlingham Polo Association
Website: http://www.hpa-polo.co.uk
The Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) is the governing body for polo in the UK,
Ireland and many other countries throughout the world. As such, it is responsible for the
regulations and rules under which the game is played. This includes the handicapping of
any one playing in the U.K. or Ireland, and the fixtures list. The object of the HPA is to
further the interests of polo generally and support by all possible means the common
interests of its affiliated clubs and associations.
In 2004, the HPA became an incorporated company limited by guarantee. The directors
of the company are the Stewards who form an executive committee which meets usually
four times a year. The members of the company are the elected Council representatives of
the affiliated clubs and associations. The Council meets twice a year, in December and in
May for the AGM and approval of the accounts.
Beneath the Stewards, the following sub committees have specific responsibilities to the
Stewards as indicated by their headings:
Handicap, Development, Coaching, International, Finance and Grants, Umpire and Rules,
Umpire Grading, Disciplinary, Polo Pony Welfare, and Arena.
7. Appendix 2
St Bartholomew’s School - Newbury
St Bart’s is at the heart of the Newbury Community. The school has a history for
tradition, a philosophy of Enterprise and a clear vision for the future. The outstanding
facilities across the curriculum and real attention to the needs of all pupils enable our
students to build for a promising future on solid educational foundations.
St Bart's is a forward thinking comprehensive school. Time after time, our results and
achievements place us as one of the top secondary schools in the country. We are
members of the Specialist Schools Trust 70% club for our GCSE A*-C grades. A large
vibrant sixth form offers a wide range of subjects and attracts students from around the
area.
8. Appendix 3
Schools and Universities Polo Association
Website: http://www.supa.org.uk/
SUPA was established to promote and develop Schools and Universities Polo.
Founded in 1991, SUPA acts as a central point of reference for advice, guidance
and encouragement. SUPA organises tournament, representative teams and
seeks to distribute financial support as far as possible. There is now an extensive
winter and summer programme of polo for Schools, Junior Schools and
Universities. SUPA supports an active winter programme of training and
development, National Arena Championships and regional tournaments.
The Summer programme features National Junior Schools, Girls Schools and
National Universities Tournaments. All of these tournaments feature beginners,
novice, intermediate and Open Divisions.
There are on average around 20 players in each school - with some schools
having over 40 players. There are around 50 schools and 50 universities involved
with SUPA and well over 2,500 young players represented and supported by
SUPA.
9. Appendix 4
Cowdray Park Polo Club
With a long and illustrious history, Cowdray Park is recognized worldwide as the Home
of British Polo. Set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty within Viscount Cowdray’s
16,500 acre estate in West Sussex, the game of polo has been played at Cowdray for
close on a century – the first competitive tournaments being recorded in 1910. By the
1920s a whole series of competitions with dedicated cups and trophies was firmly
established, although the sport in the UK was to all but die out during the Second World
War.
Cowdray Park Polo Club’s significance in the re-establishment of polo in England
following the Second World War cannot be underestimated. This was largely due to the
efforts of a legendary name in the history of polo, John, 3rd Viscount Cowdray, who died
in 1995. Father of the present Viscount, he turned Cowdray Park into one of the most
famous polo clubs in the world – firmly establishing its place at the very pinnacle of the
sport both nationally and internationally.
10. Appendix 5
SUPA Fixture List – 2008
Website: http://www.supa.org.uk/
The tournaments below are organized by SUPA and not only represent an opportunity for
teams to play but also for talented players to be seen in action by club officials and team
captains on the lookout for new talent.
Provisional SUPA Fixture List - 2008
This fixture list is provisional only and is as at 25th October 2008
Revisit this page until it is comfirmed as final
November 2-4 B.E.D. Invitational Tournament Open Edinburgh P.C.
February 7-10 LaMartina Winter National Open Hand Equestrian
Universities
February 24 National Senior Intermediate Open Longdole P.C
Tournament
March 2 National Girls Schools Tournament Open Longdole P.C.
March 9 National Junior Schools Tournament Open Longdole P.C.
March 9 National Senior Schools Open Longdole P.C.
Novice Tournament
March 16 National Senior Schools Tournament Open Longdole P.C.
April SUPA Tri-Nations – Ireland, Open Wicklow Arena
Scotland, England
April 2 SUPA National Scottish School Open Oatridge
June SUPA Scotland University Open Edinburgh P.C.
Tournament
June 1 National Junior Schools Tournament 0pen Longdole P.C.
June 8 National Girls' Schools Tournament 0pen Millfield
June 13-15 National Universities Tournament 0pen Offchurch Bury
June 15 National Schools Under 16 0pen Longdole P.C.
Tournament
June 22 National Intermediate Schools Open Longdole P.C.
Tournament
June 29 National Senior Schools Tournament 0pen Longdole P.C.
July SUPA Scotland Schools Tournament 0pen Edinburgh P.C.
July 1-2 SUPA Regional Open Tournament Open West Wycombe
July 5 HPA v. SUPA 0pen RCBPC
July 6 HPA v. SUPA (Stephen Towler) 0pen Kirtlington P.C.
11. July 7-13 LaMartina SUPA International Polo
Festival
July 8 1st Test Match Young England - Open Guards P.C.
Young India
July 12 2nd Test Match Young England - Open Cirencester P.C.
Young India
July 12 British University v England Open Cirencester P.C.
Universities
July 12 Ladies HPA v. SUPA 0pen Cirencester P.C.
July 12 Colts: Young Britain v Young Open Cirencester P.C.
England
July 19 SUPA National Scottish Schools Open Dundee & Perth
Pc
September SUPA Scottish Challenge Cup Open Edinburgh P.C.
October 5 SUPA Annual General Meeting Harrow School
12. Appendix 6
Young England
The 2008 SUPA International Polo Test
Match Series took place from 7th to 13th
July, where the next generation of polo
stars from England, France and India
were hand selected and invited to come
together for a week long polo
extravaganza, culminating in the La
Martina International SUPA Festival day,
hosted by Cirencester Park Polo Club on Saturday July 12th.
This year was no different in illustrating the success of such an initiative but
importantly marked a new era in the history of polo and a significant opportunity
for the development of the Festival, SUPA’s overall objectives and the way in
which the larger polo community play a role.
With an increasing crowd of spectators the inevitable polo cycle has led to a new
breed of Junior Polo supporters. Fathers usually found on the pitch playing
medium and high goal polo took a day out of the polo season with camera in
hand and budding polo playing children in tow.
One particular Father who stood out from the crowd is better known for his polo
team Cadenza and his support of the Cartier International Day where the Audi
and Cadenza sponsored England team play. In response to the talent displayed
during the week-long festival, Tony Pidgley came forward as a new sponsor of
the International Polo Festival with the Cadenza Junior Gold Cup and a generous
grant. Cadenza now joins La Martina as an ardent sponsor of the Schools and
Universities Polo Association.
The Cadenza Junior Gold Cup was created and will be annually awarded to
winners of the International Test Match Series. Tony Pidgley, genuinely excited
about the opportunities that surround SUPA and the support he can offer said:
“I am involved in polo at the top end and it only makes sense to get involved at
the foundation level too, as this is the next generation of polo players. It also
motivates the young and keeps me involved. This is what polo is all about –there
are no pro’s out there, these guys are playing against their peers and some of
the talent I saw today made me think that some of these guys might be worth
employing for my own team! I am looking forward to supporting this event and a
number of initiatives with SUPA”.
The Festival represents the best of the Schools and Universities Players and also
hosts up to two invited international school/university teams showcasing their
most promising players. This year, players were flown over from India and
France and two Young England teams selected to participate in the all important
two-test match series. The players are carefully selected - many of whom who
13. are not often given this kind of an international opportunity rose to the challenge.
The Festival day witnessed perfectly matched teams and outcomes defined
within seconds of the clock. The matches displayed fast, sweeping and open
polo with huge lofted shots, accurate and running nearside plays and the most
impressive back-hands on show in one day.
The prize giving hosted by Chairman of Cirencester Park Polo Club Richard
Britten-Long captured the spirit of the day, and the effect of the work SUPA does
was concluded perfectly by French Polo Federation Coach Mr Jean Yves
Garaud:
“We have had the most wonderful week and importantly will be taking a little bit
of SUPA back to France where we have no such system in place. We have felt
privileged to be part of the Festival and are overwhelmed at the generosity of
Polo Clubs in England.”
With the talent displayed during this unique week long festival and the generosity
and support of sponsors and supporters there looks to be an exciting future
ahead for the next generation of polo players.
The Schools and Universities Polo Association would like to extend its gratitude
to key sponsors La Martina and supporters Roxtons, and event sponsors
elliegray clothing, Total Employment, Brett Polo, Polonetworks and Lycetts
Insurance.
14. Appendix 7
Commercial Sponsors
The following is a sample list of companies who have actively supported and sponsored
Polo. The list is not comprehensive and has been added from my research to show the
variety of companies interested in supporting Polo. I have added the nature of the
business of the sponsors.
• Baileys Horsefeed – Horse feedstuff
• Audi - Cars
• Cartier – Luxury goods
• Vieve Cliquot - Drinks
• The Worshipful Company of Saddlers – Organisation
• Brett Horsepower – Horse equipment
• La Martina – Clothing
• Ganjam – Jeweler
• Bose – Audio Equipment
• Churchill Insurance - Insurance
• Roxtons - Clothing
• The Polo Splice - Clothing
• Polo Times - Newspaper
• Al Habtoor Group – Wealth Management
• Meyado Wealth Management
• Jack Wills – Clothing
• Centaur – Photographic
• Hildon – Mineral Water
Example of Sponsorship by LA Martina
LA MARTINA grant launches SUPA International Polo
Festival
Schools and Universities Polo Association will stage its first “SUPA International
Polo Festival” grant-supported by Argentina’s premier polo supplier, La Martina
and in cooperation with the Pony Club at the seat of SUPA polo, Cirencester Park
Polo Club, July 16.
Featured for the first time, at one event, will be Britain’s finest young players, men
and a woman, in a medley of international polo matches:
15. • Young England v New Zealand
• Young England v Kenya
• Young England Colts v Young Britain Colts
• England Universities (South) v British Universities (North)
• POUT Ladies v HPA Ladies
SUPA institutions, University/Head Masters/Mistresses, from across the country
will be invited to an exclusive day of youth polo which culminates the work of the
England selectors to refine its national team selections from a series of pre-festival
trials in anticipation of these international test matches. A sponsored barbeque is
also planned. Pout, the high fashion cosmetics boutique, has sponsored the Ladies
match.
The principal support from La Martina, in the cooperation between the HPA and
Pony Club will transform this traditional SUPA day into a unique international polo
event in the polo calendar dedicated to the future of youth polo.
SUPA, with over 2,000 members, is a not-for-profit organization established to
promote and organize youth polo amongst educational institutions within the UK
and internationally.
16. Appendix 8
Guards Polo Club - Queens Cup Information
http://www.guardspoloclub.com/the-events/tournament/73
Held on 14/06/09.
This world-class polo tournament attracts the sport's leading players from across the
globe. Played over a period of three weeks, some 16 teams battle on the Club's main
grounds in a bid to win the prestigious Queen's Cup. This silverware was first presented
to the Club by HM The Queen in 1960 and she historically attends Finals Day, this year
scheduled for Sunday 14 June, to present the Cup to the winning patron.
The team sheet always reads like a Who's Who of polo and each game is so important
that even if the players are not in action on the field, they can be found watching the
games intensely, keeping a close eye on their rivals' tactics. This is 22-goal polo at its
best - with players and ponies at the top of their game.
17. Appendix 9
International Women’s Polo
Following it's initial conception in 1989 and its formal UK launch in April 1997, the
IWPA now has representatives in 31 countries worldwide and is involved in the
organisation of 10 International tournaments.
The Association's main sponsor is the Ascot Park Polo Club which supports its
Founder and Chairman, Pippa Grace and funds the Association's administrative
costs.
Aims
The Association assists with the International development of the growing
number of women players. It aims are to:
• Increase the number of new women players through scholarships and
the identification of international playing opportunities;
• Encourage the provision of facilities for female players at clubs
around the world;
• Increase the level of sponsorship and financial support directed
towards women's polo and its players;
• Promote the use of female Professional Players;
• Encourage the development of National Women's Polo Development
Committees.
The IWPA creates opportunities for women
at clubs throughout the world and in
particular at its home base, the Ascot Park
Polo Club were both the UK National
Women's Polo Tournament and the
Women's World Polo Championships
are hosted.
Ladies Chukkas are held every Wednesday
evening and Thursday morning. In addition,
the IWPA organises its annual subsidised
National Ladies Training Day at the Club.
