Mint Polo in the Park 2012
3,000 T
IN 2011, THERE WERE MORE THAN 3,000 MEMBERS REGISTERED WITH AND HANDICAPPED BY THE HPA
he Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) is the governing body for polo in the UK and Ireland. It has issued the rules and regulations by which the game of polo must be played since they made the first set of English grass polo rules way back in 1875 – the HPA is the ‘grandfather’ of modern polo. The first ever match played at Hurlingham grounds was in 1874 and it became the national headquarters of the sport. After 60 years of polo – encompassing the First World War – the grounds at Hurlingham were turned over for agricultural use. Then, following the outbreak of World War II, no polo was played again until 1952, when the HPA reclaimed the land and re-laid the pitches. The HPA, like most governing bodies, has a focus to promote public interest in the sport, as well as developing the sport from élite to grass roots levels. One of the key ways in which the HPA supports the growth of the game is through its Instructor and Coach qualifications. These allow polo enthusiasts to coach players of abilities from 0–3 goals and 3+ goals respectively, and are crucial to polo’s continued development. They are also responsible for the organising of fixtures lists and the handicapping of anyone playing within its jurisdiction. Grass roots polo starts in the Pony Club and Junior HPA. It comes as no surprise then, that the majority of the 50 best players in the UK have previously played Pony Club Polo, as did all the England team in the 2010 Coronation Cup, and there are many up-and- coming British players going through the ranks of the Pony Club and Junior HPA. Promoting play across the nation, the HPA gives grants to the Armed Forces, the Pony Club and schools and universities for the encouragement of polo, and to clubs for improvement of their grounds. A bursary scheme is also run by the HPA for players of varying standards and ages to play overseas. Individuals who are members of the clubs in UK or Ireland as full playing members are automatically associate members of the HPA. They are subject to the rules and regulations of the HPA as a player and horse-owner, and are allocated a handicap according to their abilities. An individual is unable to play at any affiliated club without being a member of the HPA. The HPA releases an annual yearbook, which contains clubs, their players and also future fixtures and tournaments. The arena handbook is available from any arena-playing club, and rules are available to download on the website. For those interested in finding out more about the what can sometimes be considered a confusing and complex sport, the HPA produces a quarterly publication called Hurlingham Polo Association Magazine. Featuring articles on who to watch, the latest news and gossip from the circuit, event calendars and player profiles, the title is widely considered essential reading for any polo enthusiast, whether you’re totally new to the game, an enthusiastic spectator, a budding amateur or a seasoned professional.
The HPA is currently made up of: 55 outdoor clubs in the UK 11 outdoor clubs in Ireland 28 arena clubs in the UK & Ireland 6 associations in the UK & Ireland 25 overseas clubs and associations
For more information, go to the HPA’s website at www.hpa-polo.co.uk
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