Cowdray Park Polo Club’s 2017 season launches on Saturday 29th April with the opening matches in the 8 goal Barrett Cup and 12 goal Tyro Cup. Despite the concerns voiced over the winter on visa restrictions for overseas players and grooms, the Hurlingham Polo Association has worked hard on behalf of all the UK clubs with the result that restrictions have been lifted pending further scrutiny. Polo at Cowdray Park is therefore set to be as exciting as ever with some 400 matches in prospect.
The highlight of the season, the world famous Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup for the British Open Polo Championship, opens on 27th June with the Carlos Gracida Memorial Trophy being the feature match of the afternoon. The Midhurst Town Cup takes place on Sunday 2nd July and is this year supported by Jackson-Stops of Midhurst with prizes sponsored by local luxury leather goods company Aspinal of London. The match is always a favourite with the local crowd as it showcases two of the Gold Cup teams based in the area and gives spectators the chance to decide who to throw their support behind during the British Open Championship. Quarter Finals take place on the weekend of 15th/16 July, Semi Finals on Wednesday 19th July and the prestigious Final of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Gold Cup on Sunday 23rd July.
In what is likely to be a very busy season, a total of thirty trophies will be contested, including the very popular HPA series of the Dollar, Duke of Sutherland, Harrison, Holden White, Challenge and Autumn Cups. In addition, a new initiative for 2017 will see members of other clubs being offered the chance to play ‘Weekend Polo’ on certain Saturday and Sunday mornings of the season. The players must be fully affiliated members of the Hurlingham Polo Association. This, coupled with the activities of Cowdray Park Polo Club’s Academy, will see polo thrive and flourish at the club and reinforce its reputation for opening up the sport to newcomers, especially young players.
Social membership of the club affords a member and guest access to the grounds and entry to the members’ enclosure at all matches during the season for a very affordable £175 per annum plus a one-off joining fee of £50. A Junior Membership is also available for £50 a year. Social events and reciprocal opportunities at other sporting destinations such as Goodwood, Fontwell, Hickstead and Sussex Cricket are all features of the membership package. Visit www.cowdraypolo.co.uk for further information on all the club’s activities, or call the Polo Office on 01730 813257.
Information supplied by Liz Higgins, Press Officer, direct tel: 01730 810717.
Cowdray Park Polo Club
Direct Tel: 01730 810717
Mobile: 07887 994787
