Final bell
In association with Aprés Polo
Cowdray Park polo manager Chris Bethell’s...
Passions
The man responsible for ensuring this month’s 57th Gold Cup runs smoothly opens up to James Mullan about his boyhood crushes and his fervently blue blood What’s your favourite polo memory? It’s the ultimate moment of polo sportsmanship: I was playing on Johnny Yeoman’s team in the final of the Warwickshire Cup in I think 1979 or 1980. We were winning by a goal with just seconds left in the sixth chukka, when one of the Merlos boys hit a shot to equalise, but it wasn’t clear if it had crossed the line or not. Johnny insisted their goal should stand, as he didn’t want to win just by a controversial decision. So we went into extra time. There were no goals in the seventh or eighth chukkas, and we finally won it in the ninth. It was a remarkable afternoon and a wonderful way to win. Who’s been your best ever teammate? Martin Glue. We just go back so far and have had so much fun together down the years, both on and off the field. What about your hardest opponent? Alan Kent. Favourite pastime outside polo? Football. I’m an avid Chelsea fan, so am on top of the world at the moment, following our Champions League win in May. The team’s crest is my screensaver on my phone and my computer.
Favourite holiday destination? Kenya. You can alternate between polo, safari and deep sea fishing, which makes for the
“I had my ankle in plaster for three months after a Florida rollerblading accident” perfect combination for me. We’ve been a couple of times. What’s your most annoying habit? Not answering the phone probably! What was the first single or album you ever bought? Something by Olivia Newton John I think. I just really fancied those beautiful blue eyes... Who was your biggest crush growing up? Probably her! More recently, I’ve been keen on Nicole Kidman. My wife already knows about that by the way! Favourite film? One flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Favourite book/author? Dan Brown’s bestseller, Code. The Da Vinci Code
First car? Oooh, it was a Vauxhall something-or-other. I’ve tried to forget it – it was a horrible thing! Most prized possession? My children. When was the last time you got really angry? There was a certain polo patron not long ago..., but I’d better leave that anecdote suitably vague! What is your guilty pleasure? Smoking. Maté or English breakfast? Neither – I’m a coffee man. Radio 1 or Radio 4? Sorry – it’s Radio 2! A bottle of wine or bottle of beer? Beer. Have you ever broken a bone and how? I’ve broken my collarbone and hand playing polo but, more embarrassingly, I also had to have my ankle in plaster for three months after I broke it rollerblading in Florida on one of my days off from polo. That felt pretty stupid! Who taught you to play polo? My father and grandfather both played, so it was inevitable that I’d follow suit. My Dad actually won the Gold Cup exactly 50 years ago, in 1962, so it’s nice that I can remember that in my capacity at Cowdray Park today. Describe yourself in three words. Passionate about polo.
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22/06/2012 12:34