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O P I N I O N
actively debated and will always be hot
topics, given they are two of the issues we
most need to get right. In the short term, we
also have the impact of Brexit to consider, in
terms of how it may affect visa entry
requirements for overseas players and also
create the opportunity to ensure there is
a British player in each team at every level,
including high goal. In the very short term
we need Home Office guidance for the
2020 season, so that patrons and players can
make plans with confidence.
However, it is important for the next
five years to be about more than just
handicapping and tournament conditions
– there are some important areas of common
ground throughout the sport, such as the
importance of grass-roots development,
the development and education of young
players, the raising of standards of conduct,
behaviour, discipline and animal welfare,
the importance of a coherent commercial
strategy to bring needed funding and
sponsorship in the game and the need to
modernise the overall governance structure
of the HPA as the governing body.
All of these issues are crucial to the
long-term welfare and development of
the sport and will be at the heart of the
respective HPA committees in terms of
a plan and accountability. There are a
number of these areas I feel passionately
about and see the need for a fresh approach
and energy in order for us to make progress,
and from the conversations I have had over
the past few months, it’s clear that many
others feel the same way.
• We have to work harder to encourage
new players into the game and support clubs
and organisations that are already working
hard to achieve this.
• We do need to give greater support to
young players and, in particular, think about
how we can create an education programme
that gives them more rounded skills so that
they are better equipped to manage their
careers and beyond.
• We must improve the standards of
conduct and behaviour on the field. Every
other sport is working hard to do this and
our sport should too. We need to eliminate
unsporting behaviour and foul language, and
raise the standards of horse welfare. The
behaviour from some players this season
towards fellow players and umpires has been
unacceptable and has no place in the sport.
• We need to strengthen relationships
with other leading international polo
associations around the world. This way we
are going to be better able to tackle shared
challenges in the game and maximise
opportunities for all players.
• As a polo community, we need to get
behind the work being done by King of
Games to develop the Hurlingham Polo 1875
brand. The success of the brand is important
to the sport and has the potential to bring
much-needed revenue for the future.
• We need to modernise the governance
of the sport and seek to broaden the range
of people willing to contribute to the HPA,
thereby ensuring the governing body
properly reflects the breadth of its members
and the sport as a whole.
At the moment it feels like there is a lot
to do. I think the next stage will be to ensure
we have the right people in place to lead the
key HPA committees and for these
committees to take ownership of the key
elements of the vision we have set out. This
way we have the best chance of making
tangible progress and building on the strong
foundations of the sport today. To return to
Chip Campbell, hopefully, if we achieve this,
we will leave it better than we found it.
Action from the Junior HPA
Rocksavage finals on the Castle
Ground at Guards Polo Club
T H E A R T O F P O LO
