Knowledge
Property – The Polo Grounds, formerly owned by Archie David
Stay grounded Keeping one’s feet on the ground is no easy task when you discover you can own a venue that has played host to Cambiaso and Princes Charles and Philip
Caroline Smail takes a closer look
P
olo Times has been made aware of an exciting piece of polo history that has recently come up for sale on the open market. The Polo Grounds, Youngs Farm, near Henley, holds an important place in the history of British polo – it was formed by the land’s then-owner, the late Major Archie David, and was one of the earliest private grounds in the country. Major Archie David, a former tea planter, had been a familiar figure at Cowdray Park in the
establishment to Smith’s Lawn and continue playing under the management of the officers of the Household Cavalry and Foot Guards. Archie David agreed. He stabled a substantial string of ponies and was generous in not only mounting particularly young players, but also providing a pool of ponies for the new club. Prince Philip allotted him stabling at the Royal Mews at Windsor Castle, where the club’s offices were also originally based. The 8-goal Archie David trophy, played in his memory at Guards, is one of the mostly hotly contested low-goal trophies and draws teams from all round the UK. The Polo Grounds are now owned by Martin Young, chairman of Sabre Investments Group, and have been played on by some of the biggest
Archie David converted a wartime airfield into a polo ground, where many of the Household Cavalry officers played 1930s and his enthusiasm for the game was legendary. His club at Henley was a converted former wartime airfield, where many of the Household Cavalry officers played, because it was easier to get to from London than Cowdray. So, when Guards Polo Club was formed in 1955 – then called the Household Brigade Polo Club – Prince Philip suggested that it might suit Major Archie David to move his entire Henley 78
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names in polo, past and present, from Prince Charles to Adolfo Cambiaso. After some lengthy negotiations, Young, a one-goaler and member at Binfield Heath, bought the property from Greek Shipping Tycoon John Latsis in 2004. He immediately set about reverting the land to its former use, starting with the reinstatement of the original polo ground. A great deal of time
Main photograph: Ali Albwardy’s Dubai Polo Team, featuring Adolfo Cambiaso (left), practicing on The Polo Grounds, currently owned by Martin Young, in 2010. Inserts: an aerial view of the grounds, and a map showing the land for sale through Ballards
and effort was put into ensuring the ground measured up to those of Young’s neighbour, Urs Schwarzenbach. As well as laying sand, he created a one-acre lake to ensure a plentiful water supply for irrigation of the ground and all the fields were re-fenced. Young has decided to put the property on the market, along with his string of 28 ponies, as he is hanging up his sticks after a 15-year polo career. F
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Interested parties should contact Ballards’ Henley Office, on 01491 411055
www.polotimes.co.uk
16/3/12 13:06:29