hurlinghampolo.com
TA L K
24
ELIZABETH HEDLEY
T H E N E X T G E N E R A T I O N
RBVN Scholarship recipient and recent graduate of the University of Virginia, Julia Smith
reflects on the positive influence her polo playing brings, on and off the field
The Raymond Bruce Vere Nicoll Scholarship
Fund (RBVN) was created in 1975 to honour
the life of its namesake after his tragic and
untimely passing in a car accident. Raymond
Bruce Vere Nicoll was an avid polo player and
the scholarship offers financial support to
help players pursue the sport while attending
the University of Virginia.
The scholarship means individual
Virginia Polo members such as myself are
granted the opportunity to be part of the
best polo programme in the country. Since
its inception, the fund has helped more than
50 students to attend the university and
compete in the sport.
I started playing polo at the age of eight,
with Work To Ride in Philadelphia, PA.
Throughout my middle-school and high-
school years I played for various teams such
as Burnt Chimney, Maryland and Brandywine.
When I played in my first tournament at
Virginia Polo Center aged 12, I felt certain
that I was destined to be a student at
the University of Virginia and a member
of Virginia Polo.
Virginia Polo is a programme centered
on commitment, dedication, sportsmanship
and lifelong relationships. It is a programme
where, through work responsibilities, we
are taught the life skills of management and
