COWDRAY PARK POLO CLUB PRESENTS
SUNDAY 29 JUNE 2025
WELCOME TO THE HOME OF BRITISH POLO
Dear Guest,
It is a distinct pleasure to welcome you to the historic Cowdray Park Polo Club, the home of British polo for the Midhurst Town Cup held on the opening Sunday of the Cowdray Gold Cup.
Nestled in the heart of the South Downs National Park, Cowdray is more than just a destination; it is a place where heritage and innovation come together to create an unforgettable experience for all who visit.
For generations, Cowdray Park Polo Club has hosted some of the finest matches in the sport’s history, with world-class players competing on our prestigious Lawns Ground - one of the most revered pitches in the polo world.
The Midhurst Town Cup has grown in recent years into a true celebration of the countryside that surrounds us - a tribute to rural life, local heritage and the community that makes this part of the world so special.
Thank you for choosing to spend your day with us. We hope you enjoy the sport, the setting, and the spirit of Cowdray.
Best wishes,
Martine Hartridge Managing Director, Cowdray Park Polo Club
TIMINGS
10am RIVER GROUND
The SafeRock Roda Polo Championship 2025 playoffs staged by Electrik Polo
12noon LAWNS 2
The Jack Gannon Trophy followed by presentation
2.10pm LAWNS 1
Chiddingfold, Leconfield & Cowdray Hunt
3pm LAWNS 1
The Midhurst Town Cup followed by presentation ‘Best Playing Pony’ sponsored by Premier Magazine
6pm BEER TENT
Live music
WHAT’S ON TODAY
ENTERTAINMENT
» Cowdray Park Polo Academy
» Tractor Rides supported by ACS
» Electrik Polo
» Mini Farm
» Chainsaw carving demo
» Vintage tractor display
» Series Land Rover Club
» MG Owners Club
» Tractor rides
» Farol tractor display
» Squire Editions
» Makers Barn
» Steam engine display
» Sussex Police
» Sussex Fire and Rescue
» Polo on e-wheels
Electrik Polo is a fast-paced, high-adrenaline sport that pushes the limits of balance, speed, and teamwork. Riders control their e-wheels with precision, using body movement to steer and accelerate.
SHOPPING
» The Well Heeled Hippy
» The Surrey Copper Distillery
» The Red Hot Fox
» Sunrays
» Somerley Studio
» Simply Cortica
» Pegaso Saddlery
» Paddock Prestige
» Off The Rails
» Middleton Made
» Locket + Storm
» Jebart Gallery
» Hive Country
» GinCycle
» George and James
» Finlay & Co
» Finishing Touches
» Estribos Argentina
» Emita Polo
» Country Artisans Interiors
» Butternut Box
» Bricks and Stitches
» Blossom and Blu
» Artist on the Hill
» Alison McGregor Ceramics
VINTAGE FUNFAIR
» Swing Boats
» Chair ‘O’ Planes
» Coconut Shy
» Strikers
» Game Stalls
FOOD AND DRINK
» Gusbourne Bar
» The Three Cockerels Bar
» De Luca’s Ice Cream
» Howie’s Coffee
» Lisa’s Pizza Oven
» SWA Burger
» Ollie’s Loaded Fries
» O’Hagan’s Sausages
» Little Fish
SHOWTIME
FRIDAY 18 TH JULY 2025
6.00p m » start | 10.30p m » end LAWNS POLO GROUNDS GU29 0AJ
THE MIDHURST TOWN CUP
The origins of polo at Cowdray Park can be traced back to the early 20 th century when the sport was introduced to the estate by the 1 st Viscount Cowdray, Weetman Dickinson Pearson.
The Cowdray family has been instrumental in the development of polo in England, and Cowdray Park quickly became a prominent venue for the sport.
The Midhurst Town Cup, specifically, has been a significant fixture in the Cowdray Park polo calendar. Established to celebrate the local heritage and the close ties between the town of Midhurst and Cowdray Park, the Cup has grown in prestige over the decades.
The Midhurst Town Cup is one of the most popular trophies at Cowdray, it was first presented by the Midhurst Chamber of Trade in 1953. Polo, of course, continues to generate a significant income for the businesses of the town. This cup is always presented on the first Sunday of the Gold Cup tournament.
The Midhurst Town Cup is solid silver with two loop wire handles and a plain polished body with a stepped finial topped lid. It has a circular pedestal base which is mounted on a medium sized wooden plinth that has five tiers surrounded by silver plates. These plates are engraved with past winners from 1953 to the present day.
The body of the cup is engraved with ‘The Midhurst Town Cup presented by the Trade’s people of Midhurst.’
THE JACK GANNON TROPHY
THE MIDHURST TOWN CUP
SOCIAL MEMBERSHIP
Social membership at Cowdray Park Polo Club offers a relaxed and beautiful setting for all to enjoy the ‘Game of Kings’. As the home of British polo, Cowdray Park Polo Club prides itself on making polo accessible to all.
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
» Free entry to all polo matches, including the Gold Cup semi-finals and final, for a member and guest (excluding junior membership)
» Over 25 reciprocal sporting events – full calendar to be launched pre-season
» Access to the Clubhouse and Members’ enclosure at all matches
» Complimentary diary, a commemorative badge and car pass
» Invitations to all the Club’s social events and exclusive members events throughout the season
» Regular e-newsletters with match reports, club updates and the seasons latest news
» Preferential rate at the Clubhouse at Ambersham
» A complimentary copy of the CPPC Yearbook
Join us at cowdraypolo.co.uk/membership
COWDRAY’S
Maize Maze
Maize Maze
AND FLOWER PICKING PATCH
OPENING 1 ST AUGUST 2025
Cowdray’s Maize Maze is back with an exciting Wild West theme!
Throughout August, enjoy exploring the maze, complete the stamp trail and take in the scenery from our viewing platform. You can also wander through our sunflower and wildflower picking patch and take a bunch home.
This year, we will be hosting a number of exclusive events at the Maze including a Harvest Hoedown, Open-Air Cinema evenings and live music every Friday. Book early to avoid disappointment.
Tickets £7.50, 3’s and under go free. To book, please visit: www.cowdray.co.uk/events or simply scan the QR code.
FOLLOW
THE ACTION
» COWDRAY TV
Purchase your tournament pass via our website to watch all the games in the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup 2025.
» WEBSITE
Follow all the action leading up to the final stages of the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup on our website cowdraypolo.co.uk
» SOCIALS
Instagram / Facebook / TikTok: @cowdraypolo
LinkedIn: Cowdray Park Polo Club
SATURDAY 19 TH JULY 2025
5.30p m » start | 12.00a m » end LAWNS POLO GROUNDS GU29 0AJ
GUIDE TO POLO
The object of Polo is for a team to score more goals than its opposition to win the game. Each team of four is made up of attackers and defenders, but all members of a polo team are expected to be flexible and make any play whether offensive or defensive and change position as necessary to benefit the team.
PLAYERS HANDICAPS
Each player is given a handicap from -2 to 10 goals depending on his ability. The lowest handicap is -2 and 10 is the highest. A team’s handicap rating is calculated by adding together the 4 players’ handicaps. The handicap of teams entering the Cowdray Gold Cup is 20-22 goals.
THE TEAM
A team is made up of 4 players with each numbered 1 to 4. Each position has a purpose; No.1 and No.2 are the forwards, No.3 is the pivot position (usually the best player in the team) and No.4 (or Back) is the goal defender.
DURATION OF PLAY
Matches are divided into chukkas. In the UK, there are between 4 and 6 chukkas in a match, the number of which depends on the level of the polo (low goal – 4 chukkas, medium goal – 5 chukkas, high goal – 6 chukkas). Each chukka lasts 7 minutes, with an interval of 3 minutes between each one. At half time, the interval is extended and spectators are invited onto the pitch to tread in the divots. The bell is rung at the end of each 7-minute period. Play continues until the ball goes out of play, the umpire stops play for a foul, or the bell is rung for a second time 30 seconds after the first bell. In the final chukka, the match ends after the first bell.
UMPIRES & MATCH OFFICIALS
There are 2 mounted umpires on the pitch following the game and a third man (or referee) in the stands who acts as the arbitrator if the umpires cannot agree. There is a goal judge behind each goal and they will wave a flag when a goal is scored. The scorer and the timekeeper record the goals and track the timing and sound the bell at the end of each chukka.
CHANGING ENDS
Polo is probably the only game in which the teams change ends when a goal is scored, thus equalling out any ground or weather advantage.
THE START
Play starts with the umpire throwing in the ball between the two teams lined up in front of him. In the same way play is restarted after a goal is scored or if the ball goes out over the side boards. If the ball goes over the back line, there is a hit-in by the defending team. There is no offside in polo.
GUIDE TO POLO CONTINUED
RULES OF PLAY
Right of Way – During play there is an imaginary “line of the ball”, which is generally the direction in which the ball is travelling at any one moment. When a player has established the right of way along that line, it may not be crossed by an opposing player if there is the slightest risk of collision. Crossing – Any player who crosses the player holding the right of way close enough to be dangerous or cause a player to slow up, commits a foul.
Riding Off – pushing another player and his horse out of the way using your horse is permitted, whether the other man is playing the ball or not. But it must not be done by charging in at a dangerous angle, nor must the man in possession of the ball be crossed.
Hooking sticks – A player may hook an opponent’s stick provided he is on the same side of the opponent as the ball, or directly behind him, and provided the stick is below the level of the opponent’s shoulder. Players must not attempt to hook an opponent in front of the pony’s legs.
PENALTIES
Different types of penalties are awarded depending of the nature of the foul:
• Penalty No 1 – Automatic goal
• Penalty No 2 – 30 yd hit to an open goal
• Penalty No 3 – 40 yd hit to an open goal
• Penalty No 4 – 60 yd hit to a defended goal
• Penalty No 5 – A hit from the spot where the foul was committed
• Penalty No 5B – A hit from the centre of the ground. This is used when the defending team are attacking from their own half.
HEALTH & SAFETY
We very much hope that you will enjoy your day at Cowdray Park Polo Club, where accidents are very rare BUT polo is a dangerous sport.
Neither CPPC nor the Cowdray Estate can accept any responsibility for injuries to persons or property on this ground. The following safety rules must be observed:
» Please ensure that you watch the movement of the ball during play at all times and keep yourselves, friends, family and dogs out of the safety zone area.
» Please ensure you supervise your children who will not be as diligent as you.
» Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times.
» All guest access to the pony lines, lorry parking areas and agricultural machinery is strictly forbidden.
» Alcohol may be consumed only by those aged eighteen or over. We operate a ‘Challenge 25’ policy in all bars.
» No private barbecues allowed.
» No E-wheels allowed.
» Vehicles are admitted on condition that Cowdray Park Polo Club shall not be liable for damage to any vehicle. Anything in or on or about any vehicle howsoever such a loss or damage may be caused.
» Please report any suspicious packages to a member of staff
Cowdray Park Polo Club has a duty of care to all Gold Cup attendees and wishes everyone an enjoyable time. Anyone judged to be putting themselves or others at risk may be asked to leave the grounds by officials of the club.
Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 0AQ
COWDRAY PARK POLO CLUB