England Polo team play final practise at Coworth Park before Coronation Cup
Last Thursday 21 July, The English National Polo team chose Coworth Park as the location for their pre-match practice game in preparation for the centenary anniversary of the Coronation Cup. A favourite playing ground for the England team, Coworth Park, Dorchester Collection’s country house hotel and spa in Berkshire, provides high goal pitches and is the only hotel in the UK to have two of its own polo fields. An exceptional equestrian centre with stabling for 30 horses and groom accommodation is also available on-site.
Coaching the national team ahead of Sunday’s game against Brazil, to which they won 8-6, Andrew Hine, manager of the England team, was keen to provide his squad with a quiet, private location for the important pre-match practice. Andrew, who also teaches polo at the hotel, favours the No. 1 ground at Coworth Park because of its similarities to Queens Ground, the main ground at Guards Polo Club and host of this year’s Coronation Cup.
Working with Carlos Gracida, the team’s coach and winner of the Triple Crown, the team gathered at Coworth Park for the international practice. An important opportunity to try horses and refine tactics, the practice game was played against a guest team consisting of two of the highest handicapped players from Chile and their Argentine counter-parts. Following an intense match, the team retired to a private room within the hotel to discuss the strategy of play ahead of Sunday.
Zoe Jenkins, General Manager at Coworth Park, commented: ‘Coworth Park was delighted to host the English National team. The hotel has a long-standing history with the sport and together with the Coworth Park Polo Club, it gives us great pride to continue the hotel’s polo heritage.’