So. Polo. A sport widely considered to be played by the privileged and idle rich on grounds set in sweeping estates in the Home Counties or Argentina…
Well… No, not in Scotland.
The local clubs welcome along spectators and players from all walks of life, with lessons and pony and equipment hire available at the clubs in Edinburgh, Perth, the Borders and the Stewarton Club, based at Queensferry, whether you want to play or just learn as a pastime. So, you don’t have to have millions in the bank (although it helps if you want to run your own string of ponies) or be a titled landowner to play. All the players encountered over the weekend were friendly and welcoming and were just happy to see someone sharing an interest in horses and the sport.
The Edinburgh Polo Club hosted the first of their three 2011 Season Tournaments over the weekend of the 11th/12th June. Teams from Edinburgh, Borders and Perth & Dundee clubs turned out on the Saturday, in decidedly inclement weather, to play a round-robin of matches (or ‘Chukkas’ in Polo parlance) at the Edinburgh Club’s Dalmahoy ground – free entry as well, you just have to remember to close the gate!
In spite of the weather, the Saturday chukkas were played with great gusto (one rider/horse combination hitting the ground due to the slippery surface) with a view to ‘qualifying’ for the Sunday’s finals.
Sunday brought much better weather and, what seemed to be, a better turn-out – especially of spectators – for another day of play. The teams had previously been arranged in two ‘leagues’ according to level of play, and both went to teams from Edinburgh with a cup for the ‘junior’ league winners and a large silver bowl to the Warriston team, the winners of the highly competitive (and sometimes combative) ‘senior’ league.
Report and Photo – John Preece
Gallery – http://www.photoboxgallery.com/jlp-photography
