July 11th & 12th – a weekend of Army Polo
The National Army Museum at Guards & The Hackett London Rundle Cup at Tidworth (and a visit from the Mongolian Army Polo team)
By Victoria Elsbury-Legg
Given the eclectic history which the military and polo share, Guards Polo Club (founded as a military club sixty years and with Smith’s Lawn gaining its name from the military runway that was located there), there is little doubt why the venue was chosen by those involved as the perfect location for a Fundraising Lunch on 12th July 2015 for The National Army Museum. Currently plans are in place to make The National Army Museum, based at its Chelsea site on Royal Hospital Row since 1971, to become ‘the leading authority on the history of the British Army and a first class museum that moves, inspires, challenges, educates and entertains.’
Established by Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templer, the Museum has continued to grow and reinvent itself, in more recent years it has ‘recognised the importance of placing the contemporary experience of the Soldier in the spotlight. Connecting the past with the present and highlighting some of the core principles of Army service that transcend time and place; bravery, integrity, humour, physicality, adventure, risk and sacrifice.’ Its Collection is the world’s largest single accumulation of items and exhibits of the British Army – telling its story from 1435 to the present day.
Funds are now being raised for ‘The Building of the Future’ project which intends to give greater access to the Museum and its Collection by revolutionising the visitor experience creating five new state of the art thematic galleries, temporary exhibition spaces, learning and research areas. After lunch on Saturday 12th, The Interegimental Cup will be played for on Smith’s Lawn – one of the most long established English polo tournaments. Tickets for the day can be purchased at Guards.
In other Army polo news, the British Army Polo (@BritishArmyPolo) have been tweeting about the ‘Fantastic first day with the Mongolian Army Polo Team @TidworthPolo,’ where matches will continue this week. Arriving in London a few days ago, the Mongolian Army Polo and members of the Mongolian Polo Association will be playing and training alongside the British Army Polo team for the next week, no doubt helping the British Army to practise for the upcoming Hackett London Rundle Cup which will be held at Tidworth Polo Club on Saturday 11th July – where everyone is welcome.
Despite the modernisation of the type of horsepower more generally deployed by the British Forces, it would seems the history that so close connects polo and the military continues to be written.