CPPC Midhurst Town Cup programme 2026

COWDRAY PARK POLO CLUB PRESENTS

MIDHURST TOWN CUP SUNDAY 28 JUNE 2026

WELCOME TO T H E H O M E 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 St. Regis Cowdray Gold Cup. Nestled in the hear t 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 spor t’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 par t of the world so special.

Thank you for choosing to spend your day with us.

We hope you enjoy the spor t, the setting, and the spirit of Cowdray.

Best wishes, Martine Hartridge Managing Director, Cowdray Park Polo Club

TIMINGS

10am

GATES OPEN

12noon

LAWNS 2 The Jack Gannon Trophy followed by presentation

1.30pm

LAWNS 1 Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray Hunt parade

2pm

LAWNS 1 Knights of Middle England

3pm

LAWNS 1 The Midhurst Town Cup followed by presentation

5pm

LAWNS 1 SafeRock Electrik Polo e-wheels

6pm

EVENT TENT DJ - Simon Horn

8pm

GATES CLOSE

Midhurst Town Cup Produce Competition: Entries need to be delivered to the event tent by 2pm - winners announced at 4.30pm.

THE MIDHURST TOW N C U P The origins of polo at Cowdray Park can be traced back to the early 20th century when the spor t was introduced to the estate by the 1st 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 spor t.

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.’

W H AT ’ S O N TO D AY ENTERTAINMENT

» Forestry

» Chainsaw carving demonstration

» Golf swing net » Fly fishing casting

» Cowdray classic cars

» Heritage

» Vintage tractor display

» Cowdray Park Polo Academy

» Tractor rides

(brought to you by Case IH and Ernest Doe)

VINTAGE FUNFAIR Swing boats Chair-o-planes Coconut shy Strikers Game stalls Rifle range

» The Little Sherwood Farm

» » » » » »

» Produce competition

FOOD AND DRINK

» Show tent talks

» Gusbourne Bar

» SafeRock Electrik Polo

» Game & Flame

» Steam engine display » Bale maze » Knights of Middle England » Mini tractors (Petting Farm)

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.

COWDRAY ESTATE » Cowdray Lifestyle » Cowdray Farm » Works Depar tment

» The Three Cockerels Bar » De Luca’s Ice Cream » Howie’s Coffee » Lisa’s Pizza Oven » SWA Burger » Ollie’s Loaded Fries » Burgers by The Yellow Kitchen

EXHIBITORS and SHOPPING » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » »

Aspiga Bowerbox Bricks and Stitches Butternut Box Camarillo Cossu Earnest Doe & Son Emita Polo Estribos Argentina Farol Finishing Touches Fly Dresser’s Guild Forest Knights Hive Country Hive Jewellery InnerCode Ltd Juliana Riviera Limited Juliette Brasher

» » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » »

Junior Cars UK Junior UK LTD Locket + Storm Maya H Melanie Deegan Sculpture Middleton Made Midhurst Palliative Care Midhurst Rugby Club Milina Off The Rails Royal British Legion Sow Chic Squire Editions Sterck & Co Ltd Tee-J The Boot Room Company The Surrey Copper Distillery The Well Heeled Hippy The Woodland Trust Toby Embleson Fencing WendyWoo Handmade

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MIDHURST TOWN CUP Sunday 28 June 2026 Entrance

Music

Toilets

Picnic area

Parking

First aid

Disabled parking

Funfair

Food Bar Ice cream Classic car display steam engine display Cowdray Polo Academy Cowdray Golf Club Vintage tracor display Cowdray Forestry

Petting farm Tractor rides Bale maze Shopping Crafts

@USPOLOASSN | USPASHOP.COM | @USPOLOASSN U K | USPOLOASSN.CO.U K

JACK GANNON T RO P H Y

LAWNS 2 | 12 NOON

UAE POLO TEAM 1

H.H. SHEIKHA MAITHA

0

2

HUGO TAYLOR

5

3

LUCAS MONTEVERDE JNR

8

BK

JUAN MARTIN NERO

9 22

V

PARK PLACE 1

ANDREY BORODIN

0

2

LOUIS HINE

6

3

HILLARIO ULLOA

9

BK

JERONIMO DEL CARRIL

7 22

MIDHURST TOW N C U P

LAWNS 1 | 3PM

LA DOLFINA/MARQUES DE RISCAL 1

ALEJANDRO AZNAR

0

2

SIMON PRADO

6

3

FELIX ESAIN

6

BK

ADOLFO CAMBIASO JNR

10 22

V

LA HECHICERA POLO TEAM 1

PABLO GALANTE

0

2

NED HINE

5

3

LORENZO CHAVANNE

8

BK

CAMILO CASTAGNOLA

10 23

COWDRAY GOLD CUP Official sparkling tea partner

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C OW D R AY ’ S

Maize Maze & FLOWER PICKING PATCH

O P E N I N G 3 1 st J U L Y 2 0 2 6 10 Acre Maze Trail | Pick Your Own Flowers Children’s Play Area | Food & Refreshments Book your tickets & find out more on our website: www.cowdray.co.uk/events Tickets: £8.30 per person | 3’s and under go free

Farm fresh beer from Surrey’s award-winning Brewer & Hop Grower.

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Look ahead to the future you want.

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ERNEST DOE

PROUD SUPPLIERS TO COWDRAY PARK

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A natural fruit jelly that breaks the mould.

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Congratulations to the SafeRock Polo Team Winners of the 2026 Amer Randhawa Cup 10 Goal follow the team

@saferockpolo

SafeRock® is proud to be an Official Partner of the Cowdray Gold Cup

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G U I D E TO P O L O

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 star ts with the umpire throwing in the ball between the two teams lined up in front of him. In the same way play is restar ted 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.

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G U I D E TO P O L O C O N T I N U E D

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.

PLAYER AND PONY POLO HELMET HAS TO HAVE A THREEPOINT HARNESS FOR SAFETY

PLAITED TAIL STOPS PLAYERS' MALLETS’ & TACK FROM GETTING TANGLED

SADDLE

POLO MALLET DIFFERENT LENGTHS FOR DIFFERENT SIZED HORSES, USUALLY 52"/53"

RoR

ROR STICKER LOOK OUT FOR THESE STICKERS... THEY IDENTIFY RETRAINED RACEHORSES.

BANDAGES WORN FOR PROTECTION & SUPPORT STUDS SCREWED INTO THE HORSES SHOES TO PREVENT THEM SLIPPING, A BIT LIKE FOOTBALL BOOTS

REINS & RUNNING REINS PLAYERS WILL USE TWO SETS OF REINS FOR CONTROL AND SAFETY

BRIDLE BIT BITS ARE USED TO HELP WITH CONTROL, USUALLY A GAG OR PELHAM

STANDING MARTINGALE COMPULSORY TOOL TO HELP HEAD STABILITY BREASTPLATE PREVENTS THE SADDLE SLIPPING KNEE PADS PROTECTS THE PLAYER'S KNEES WHEN RIDING OFF

GIRTH STOPS THE SADDLE SLIPPING

TENDON BOOTS PROTECT FROM METAL SHOES THE BALL & HELPS WITH MALLET STABILITY

RIDING BOOTS THICKER THAN IN OTHER DISCIPLINES TO PROVIDE PROTECTION

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Polo's favourite bar

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F O L L OW 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

H E A LT H & S A F E T Y 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 spor t.

Neither CPPC nor the Cowdray Estate can accept any responsibility for injuries to persons or proper ty 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.

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 spor ting 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 repor ts, 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

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