The new season of polo at Cowdray Park Polo Club
by Liz Higgins
Cowdray Park’s 2015 polo season opens on Saturday 25th April with at least 450 matches of low, medium and high goal polo in prospect. Matchplay in the 8 goal Barrett Cup and the 12 goal Tyro Cup starts on the first day of the season.
The first international match of the 2015 UK polo season, The St. Regis International Cup, will be played at Cowdray Park on Saturday 16thMay. It is anticipated that a large audience will attend this popular fixture, now in its eighth year, with spectators keen to support the England team who will be taking on The Americas. Last year, England beat a strong South American side 11½-8. As well as the high octane polo, visitors can make the most of the trade stands, bars, food and entertainment. Front row picnic positions and entry tickets may be purchased in advance at www.cowdraypolo.co.uk. Entry on the day is £15, under 12s free.
There will be four weeks of high goal action in the Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship. Ranked in world polo terms alongside the Argentine and USA Opens, polo enthusiasts can expect to see the majority of the world’s leading players in action. The 2015 Gold Cup tournament starts on 23rd June. Highlights of the tournament include The Midhurst Town Cup taking place on Sunday 28th June with entry at just £5 per person, under 12s free. The historic local Cup will be contested as the principal match of the afternoon. The following weekend sees the popular Argentine Ambassadors Cup being played on Sunday 5th July.
During Saturday and Sunday 11/12th July, the Quarter Finals of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup will be played leading to Semi Finals on Wednesday 15th July. The action-packed Final takes place on Sunday 19th July. Expect to find around 60 retail units in the shopping village, a children’s funfair, bars and food stalls. Entry tickets may be purchased online at www.cowdraypolo.co.uk for the discounted price of £17.50 up to 4thJuly. On the gates on 15th and 19th July, entry is £20 (under 12s free), and there is free parking.
The British Open Ladies Championship has its final on the Saturday of Gold Cup weekend, Saturday 18th July. With a new handicapping system in place for women’s polo, giving lady players a revised handicap specific to the women’s game, the tournament will be played at 12-18 goal level.
Five tournaments in the highly popular HPA Series, which are open to all-comers and attract large entries, are spread over the season and a full range of domestic tournaments at low and medium goal level complete the calendar with the season closing on 20th September. The total list of fixtures is available at www.cowdraypolo.co.uk.
Non-playing (social) membership of Cowdray Park Polo Club costs just £175 per annum giving the badge holder and a guest free access to all Cowdray Park’s fixtures throughout the season. There is a one-off £50 joining fee. A new Junior membership has been introduced for Under 21s at £50 per annum. For further details call the Polo Office on 01730 813257.