OUPC in Review Trinity 2017


Note from the Chairman What a wonderful term it has been for Oxford University Polo Club. Since the elections at the end of Hilary term, the entire club has strived to take advantage of the sunny and joyous summer months of the grass season. Numerous events, both social and sporting, have been organised and members have continually become more involved. OUPC has also proudly been featured in its first ever blockbuster film: Transformers 5 has just been released in cinemas and features Oxford battling it out against Cambridge in front of Blenheim Palace! Our annual La Martina Varsity Day was met with great success, and Oxford once again marched to victory with a 5-1 score over Cambridge. The turnout was fantastic, with many of our members coming all the way from Oxford to enjoy what Guards, La Martina and British Polo Gin had organised for the day. The following weekend saw us host Harvard, Yale and Cambridge at Oxford for the annual Atlantic Cup, before heading off to Chesterton’s Polo in the Park for some Bike Polo. The weekend was rounded off with a fantastic dinner and day out in Cambridge, where university students could witness the final matches of the tournament. Once again, Oxford came out victorious and has, as such, been invited by Harvard to play in their opening tournament at the Myopia Polo Club. Other events this term saw OUPC play the Royal Navy, the Army, Durham and other great opponents. The club also hosted the first ever “Claire Lucas Cup”, a new initiative for women’s polo at Kirtlington Polo Club. This event represents OUPC’s drive to push more women into polo at a University level. This will be demonstrated at this year’s Carnival Polo at RLS Polo Club this September when OUPC girls will challenge University of London’s women’s team for the title. Highlights of the social calendar included our Annual Members & Alumni Polo Club Dinner, the Varsity Day after party, and the British Polo Gin Garden Party. All contributed to a fantastic end of term. Once again, the partnerships OUPC has developed and consolidated were key to our many successes this year. A huge thank you goes to our Official Kit & Equipment Suppliers, La Martina; Official Spirit Suppliers and our newest partners, British Polo Gin; and Official Event Partners, Varsity Events. Long-term relationships such as these are vital for the success of any initiative and OUPC is glad to have the backing of such great partners. I wish everyone a fantastic season and summer and look forward to seeing all our members and friends of OUPC this coming year to continue this exciting journey with us. Aurelia Vandamme Chairman 2017-2018
Club Contact Details email: web: facebook: twitter: instagram:
polo.club@studentclubs.ox.ac.uk www.oxforduniversitypoloclub.com fb.com/oxforduniversitypoloclub @OUPoloClub @oxforduniversitypoloclub
Committee 2017–18 President Vice Presidents
David Walton Masters HRH Crown Prince Abdullah of Pahang, HRH Prince Hassan of Jordan, General Sir Redmond Watt, & John Tylor
Senior Member Coach
Jim Hall II, Said Business School David Ashby
Chairman Captain Secretary Treasurer Polo Manager Fixtures Officer Social Secretary
Aurelia Vandamme, Keble College Charlie Hitchman, Magdalen College Lily Latimer Smith, Somerville College Munirah Dasu Patel, Lady Margaret Hall James Coates, St Hugh’s College Jack Bowen, St Anne’s College Alex Santema, Kellogg College & Wilhelmina Von Blumenthal, St Peter’s College Heather Winsor, Brasenose College Phoebe Toyne-Bridges, Exeter College Natasha Salonen, Harris Manchester College
External Relations Officer Membership & Alumni Officer Ball Presidents
A lovely moment shared between the outgoing chairman, Issa Dasu Patel, and the new chairman, Aurelia Vandamme; at the Atlantic Cup held at Kirtlington in June. It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye this term to the club's ex-Chairman, Issa Dasu Patel. OUPC would never have been able to be as successful this year without him, so a huge thank you must be said for all of his hard work. We wish him the best of luck with all his future endeavours
La Martina Varsity Polo Day Oxford defended the La Martina Varsity Trophy at the historic battle of the blues, hosted at Guard’s Polo Club. It was an action-packed day of three matches; Eton v.s. Harrow, Oxford Old Blues v.s. Cambridge Old Blues, and Oxford v.s. Cambridge. Fortunately, the weather was spectacular, making for a fantastic day of polo for players and spectators alike. The day commenced with the Old Blues match, which was comfortably won by Cambridge 10-1.5. Harrow proceeded to beat Eton 6-4.5 in a nail-bitingly close match, which featured some excellent examples of teamwork and tact. The final match was a flowing, open game, which was terrific for the crowds of students that had escaped the library to watch. Charlie Hitchman, who was named MVP of the match, played a great game, scoring some stunning goals for Oxford. Oxford ended up winning the game 5-1, however the match was closer than the score suggests. After the match spectators enjoyed a BBQ, run by Mosimann’s, and British Polo Gin bar on the Varsity Lawn. BPG’s special ‘Varsity Cocktail’, a blue gin and pineapple concoction, went down especially well. The day wound down with live music and some relaxing in the glorious sunshine; the perfect summer’s day out!
The Atlantic Cup The Atlantic Cup started in 2002, when Yale Polo Club proposed a round robin tournament between themselves, Oxford, and Cambridge. It has since grown to include Harvard, and is one of the biggest sporting and social fixtures in the OUPC calendar. Like last year, the Atlantic Cup was hosted in England by Oxford and Cambridge. This year we were also lucky enough to be invited to play an Oxbridge v.s. Ivy League bike polo exhibition match at Chesterton’s Polo in the Park; the first ever match of its kind at the event. We hope that the Atlantic Cup continues to grow and forge ties between polo fanatics from across the pond. During the first day, hosted in Oxford at Kirtlington Park Polo Club, Oxford played two matches. The first, played against Harvard, saw some excellent team plays from both teams. Special mention must go to OUPC’s Christiaan de Koning, who appeared to have glued himself to his man in some excellent defensive plays. In the end, Oxford took home their first win of the tournament with a score of 9-4. The second game was played against Yale. Charlie Hitchman organised the team well and spectators were treated to some great examples of four-man polo. Oxford again were victorious, 5-1.5.
After the post-match excitement had fizzled out, the teams returned to Oxford for a blacktie dinner in the grand Somerville College Hall. Who knew polo players could scrub up so well! OUPC Chairman, Aurelia Vandamme, kicked off the affair with gracious toasts. Attendees were then treated to high table food and free flowing wine as they chattered and giggled away as the sun went down. Younger members of the party then boogied on over to Emporium, where they remained until the early hours of morning. The following morning the players hauled themselves out of bed and rushed down to London for Chesterton’s Polo in the Park. Billed as one of the highlights of the London social calendar, the event at Hurlingham Park draws in yuppies and socialites from all over the country with the promise of some of the most glamorous day-drinking on offer. OUPC’s representatives, Priyanka Harley and Hayes Hagan, headed over to the La Martina tent to get suited and booted before their debut as bike polo professionals. ‘The only rule’, booms the enthusiastic commentator, ‘is that there are no rules’. Shots were missed, bikes were toppled, and swanky La Martina whites were muddied. In the end, the home turf advantage pays off and Oxbridge took home the trophy (2-1) in the final minute, after a nailbiting match against the Ivies.
The final day of the Atlantic Cup was hosted by Cambridge at Cambridge County Polo Club. Oxford’s final match was played against our old rivals Cambridge, as the ‘Varsity seconds match’. The team, made up of Wilhelmina von Blumenthal, Hayes Hagan, Jan Cee and Aurelia Vandamme (C), absolutely smashed it on the pitch, sealing Oxford’s final win with an 8-1 score line. Spirits are high at the awards ceremony as Oxford lifts the Atlantic Cup Plate for the second year running. The band Truly Medley Deeply starts playing and everyone begins to dance—all the players in circles, laughing and thrusting about. The Brits get champagne bottles and shower all the players in. The band plays on and the sun begins its descent; the perfect end to this historic fixture.
Fixtures Trial or tribulation, Trinity Term 2017 has certainly been an exciting time for Oxford Polo! OUPC members took part in a total of 9 matches against teams from as far afield as the US. Notably this term featured the UK’s first ever Intervarsity Women’s Tournament “The Claire Lucas Cup”. Female teams from St Andrews and Cambridge joined Oxford in an exciting afternoon showdown in honour of women’s polo with former England Women’s Captain Claire Lucas presenting prizes sponsored by La Martina and British Polo Gin.
New friends and rivals were discovered at The Royal Military College Sandhurst open day exhibition cup, Tidworth and the Royal Navy. This year Oxford participated in the Royal Navy varsity circuit narrowly missing out on the silverware donated by the Royal Navy.
Many thanks to Lt Bob Santrian and Surg Cdr Harry Rourke for their enthusiasm and support for making this tournament possible. Our latest rising stars who played polo for the first time this year have given a strong account of themselves in the university nationals competition with one of our beginner teams placing 2nd out of 16! Despite such a successful year where new talent has been discovered our vigour to find our future stars continues along with our ambitious agenda for more players, more ponies and more polo.
Congratulations to all of our players and a massive thank you to Cambridge, Guards, Hurlingham, Durham (& Leadenham), Ochurch, Tidworth, Sandhurst, and of course Kirtlington, the clubs and teams that kindly hosted us throughout the term. 
Summer Cuppers
 
This last term has seen an unprecedented number of students take part in grass polo thanks in part to nearly ideal weather conditions and more regular lessons slots than ever before. We've had many new faces join us on the grass this term in addition to many returning regulars. Summer cuppers took place on the 4th of June and Ms Suzi Cripps was awarded MVP for her role as part of the Mansfield college team, while Mr Jack Edwards (University) took home the prize for the best fall (see below for the dramatic photo, thankfully no people or horses were hurt!). Cuppers was won by The Saints, which comprised of Ms Tatiana Lanteigne (St Catherine's), Ms Sally Schwartz (St Catherine’s). and Ms Wilhelmina von Blumenthal (St Peter's). No doubt exciting times lie ahead next term for OUPC!
Socials A university club without a healthy dose of socialising is much like a polo rider without his mallet – lost, naked, worthless. OUPC kicked off the term with its Annual & Alumni dinner, held in the historic chapel of Mansfield College. Friends old and new indulged on the courses and the wine, which were followed by heartfelt speeches and our club tradition: no hands dessert! Following the Varsity match later that term, large numbers of both playing and social members danced the night away fuelled by prosecco at the headquarters of our sponsor, The Varsity Club, to celebrate OUPC’s victory that day. To welcome the polo teams of Harvard and Yale, a grand formal dinner was organised at Somerville College, where clubs and members from either side of the pond eagerly socialised. Rounding off the term, a garden party was held in the gardens of Kellogg College, where the social secretary’s heavy-handed mixing skills made for a night to remember. All in all, a fantastic series of events that brought students from across the university together, and created a warm, welcoming and celebratory environment for all!
Alumni We have had a great year with Alumni involvement at an all time high. The club has enjoyed alumni attendance at many dinners as well as some fantastic play in the Old Blues match at Guards and the ever contended Blues v Old Blues match. We would love to build on this by expanding the alumni network going forward and so if you would like to get involved or even just hear about what's going on please email your name, college and email to the club. Going forward we will be hosting an Alumni dinner at the Oxford and Cambridge Club in London in Michaelmas term and would love to see as many of you there as possible. If interested in this event please email the club at: polo.club@studentclubs.ox.ac.uk
Sponsorship The partnerships OUPC has developed and consolidated were key to our many successes this year. A huge thank you goes to our Official Kit & Equipment Suppliers, La Martina; Official Spirit Suppliers and our newest partners, British Polo Gin; and Official Event Partners, Varsity Events. Long-term relationships such as these are vital for the success of any initiative and OUPC is glad to have the backing of such great partners.
Our Partners
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La Martina British Polo Gin Oxford Polo Guards Polo Club Kirtlington Park Polo Club Calcutta Polo Club Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Club University of London Polo Club Cambridge University Polo Club Polo Times Tatler Polo Images Photography Masterstroke by Bertie Beor-Roberts Varsity Events Zipcar Tilt Cashew
This newsletter was written by Aurelia Vandamme, Heather Winsor, Lily Latimer Smith, Jack Bowen, Phoebe Toyne-Bridges, Alex Santema, and Abigail Traord.