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The polo community was saddened to hear
of the untimely death, from natural causes,
of Robert Graham on 7 August. Robert, a
former six-goal player, was born on 7 March
1952 in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and was
brought up with his brother and sister firstly
in Scotland and later in Gloucestershire.
His early equestrian career centred round the
local branch of the Pony Club, where he had
his first taste of polo.Thoroughly hooked,
he asked his father if he could put off entering
a career in the army for a year in order to
play. Graham senior agreed and Robert
enjoyed a great season, winning several
trophies along the way.
USA patron Michael Butler spotted the
keen young player and offered him a place on
his team. Robert approached his father again
with a request for a second year in polo. He
agreed that Robert could take up the offer of
a place with another American patron, Hap
Sharp – his future father-in-law – and the
army lost him forever.
Hap Sharp invited Robert to run not just
his polo operation in the UK, but also his farm
in Argentina where his ponies were bred and
trained. By this time Robert had fallen in love
with Hap’s daughter Betsy and asked if she
would go with him to Argentina – as his wife.
Hap wasn’t keen on the idea, Betsy being
only 18 years old, but Robert’s family were
supportive.The two families met in London
and Robert’s mother worked out how
a wedding could be arranged in the short
time before Robert was due in Argentina.
She organised with the vicar that the lengthy
reading of the banns could be waived and
on Christmas Day 1973 Betsy and Robert
married in Gloucester Cathedral.
Winters were spent at the farm in
Argentina and then it was back to the UK for
the European polo season. Hap Sharp’s polo
team, Greenhill Farm, was based at Cowdray,
but they entered tournaments at other
clubs – winning the Warwickshire Cup at
Cirencester amongst others. 1975 was a
memorable year for many reasons.The couple
had to leave Argentina due to the serious
problem of kidnap gangs targeting anyone
who looked as though a ransom could be
paid for them.
Robert and Betsy headed for Florida
where Hap was taking a team into the
Sunshine League.They won several cups
before heading to Spain, the only polo
destination in Europe where 25-goal polo was
played.They took home the King’s Cup and
several others. Back in the UK, Greenhill Farm
won the Cowdray Park Gold Cup and the team
finished a brilliant year by winning the Copa
de Oro in Sotogrande.They played many
seasons in the early days of Sotogrande,
winning the Copa de Oro twice more.
Robert continued to play in several
notable teams, in 1982 reaching the final
of the Cowdray Park Gold Cup with Guy
Wildenstein’s Les Diables Bleus alongside
Prince Charles and Julian Hipwood, losing
to Southfields 7-6 in extra time. He later
became a Grade-A umpire, the UK having
become the first country to employ
professional umpires for high-goal matches.
He succeeded Brigadier Arthur Douglas-
Nugent as chief umpire of the UK in 2003,
a position he held until his death.
Betsy and Robert bought the farm in
Argentina fromHap Sharp and continued to
breed and produce polo ponies assisted by
English player Will Healy, manager of Ham
Polo Club.The ranch has become a favoured
destination for many young English players
over the years as a place to improve their
polo during the UK off-season.
Robert is survived by his wife Betsy
and their daughter Vanessa, born in 1984,
who is now finance controller for Cowdray
Park Polo Club. Robert also served on the
committee that runs the Club, and will be
greatly missed at Cowdray Park as well as
in the wider polo world.
H A P S H A R P I N V I T E D R O B E R T T O
R U N H I S P O L O O P E R AT I O N I N T H E
U K , A N D H I S F A R M I N A R G E N T I N A
Opposite:
Prince Charles
(left) next to Robert Graham,
Julian Hipwood and Guy
Wildenstein’s team ‘Les
Diables Bleus’ in 1982.
This page:
Robert Graham
