POLO

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Introduction to Pony Club Polo:
Playing Pony Club polo and being part of a polo team is amazing fun, experiencing the highs of lows of competition, horsemanship and camaraderie, friends are made for life in an environment that many say is one of the highlights of their childhood. The sport is accessible as you can play with one pony all the way up to 21, or compete more seriously with multiple ponies.
The Royal Artillery Pony Club is one of the busiest polo branches, arranging practices and tournaments at its home club, Tedworth Park Polo Club, in Tidworth, with many players and teams competing at all levels. The branch has won all of the sections multiple times over the last 30 years!
The main Pony Club polo season takes place in July and the start of August ending with The Pony Club Polo Championships, which are held at the prestigious Cowdray Park Polo Club, West Sussex.
Any teams can attend friendly tournaments to practise, have fun and work towards qualifiers which run just before the Championships.
Jorrocks teams (6 – under 11) must take part in TWO qualifying tournaments to be able to play at the Championships, all other age groups must go to THREE qualifying tournaments to be able to go to the Championships.
The Championships take place in August and is a full weekend of polo for all ages!
Please express interest to Ed Whittington; 07815 780 706
2025 tournament dates:
20th February Tedworth Park Arena SP9 7AW
21st April Beaufort Arena GL8 8QW
15th February Tedworth Park Valentine’s Arena Tournament SP9 7AW
1st April Beaufort Easter Arena Tournament GL8 8QW
4th April Tedworth Park Easter Arena Tournament SP9 7AW
TBC July Vaux Training Camp & Friendly Tournament TA13 5LP
17th July Oxford Polo Friendly Tournament OX25 3AA
24th July Black Bears Qualifier Tournament RG9 3NN
29th July Cirencester Qualifier Tournament GL6 8HS
31st July Longdole Qualifier Tournament GL4 8LH
4th August Tedworth Park Friendly Tournament SP9 7AH
8th – 10th August Cowdray Championships GU29 0AL
14th/15th August Select Training/Matches at JCB Championships CV32 7UA
Age Group Sections:
A player’s age is taken from 1 January in each year
Jorrocks
Players must be 6 years and over and under 11 years old riding a Fluffy 13.2hh and under. Maximum
handicap is -2.
Handley Cross
Players must be 11 and over and under 14 years old riding a Fluffy 14.2hh and under.
Jorrocks on Polo Ponies (JOPPs)
Players must be 6 years and over and under 11 years old. Maximum handicap is -2.
Surtees
Players must be 11 and over and under 15 years old. Maximum handicap is -1.
Loriner
Players must be 15 years and over and under 21 years. Maximum handicap is 0.
Langford
Players must be under 21 years of age. Matches are played in 2 x 2 chukka format.
Hipwood
Players must be 11 years and over and under 14 years old. Maximum handicap is 0 goal (only one
allowed per team). Matches are a 3 chukka format.
Rocksavage
Players must 11 years and over and under 17 years old. Maximum handicap is 1 goal (only one
allowed per team). Matches are a 4 chukka format.
Finally there is
Gannon
This is the highest level and most prestigious section of the Pony Club Championships. Players must
be under 21. Minimum handicap is -1. Matches are 4 chukkas.
What is Polo?
Polo is like hockey on horseback! You have to hit the ball into the goal with your polo stick. Each game is played between two teams with four players on each side.
The game is divided into short, six minutes parts known as Chukkas.
The more experienced you are, the more chukkas there are in a game.
Pony Club Polo is split into different sections:
  • Jorrocks (6 – under 11)
  • Jorrocks on Polo Ponies (6 – under 11)
  • Handley Cross (9 – under 14)
  • Hipwood (11 – under 14)
  • Surtees (9 – under 15)
  • Loriner/Rendell (14 – under 21)
  • Langford (under 21, min HC -2)
  • Gannon (under 21, min HC -1)
Jorrocks and Handley Cross are played on general Pony Club ponies that must attend non-polo rallies. In all other sections, polo ponies can be used
Announcement:
George has stepped down from her role as the RA Polo Manager.
On behalf of the RA & our polo players…A massive THANK YOU to George for her dedication & commitment, our teams have achieved some fantastic results under her leadership cumulating with a glorious win for our Jorrocks Team at the AREA 14 Championships.
Hop over to our FB page for the 2024 polo roundup
Thank you George from all at the RA…you will be missed
Polo – Want to know more?
BE THE BEST – PLAY RA POLO!
Anyone can come and have a go, so why don’t you?  It’s great fun.
But I don’t have a polo stick, so I can’t – yes you can, you can borrow an RA polo stick.
But my pony has never played before – many haven’t – we get them started.
Most take to it easily.
What do I need? Yourself in riding gear including your riding hat, your pony and tack, and some bandages or protective boots to go on all four of your pony’s legs;  oh, and the ability to plait you pony’s tail (with or without help – and we will show you how it’s done) and to tape it up.
The players wear white jeans rather than jodhpurs – yes, how cool is that?  But you don’t need to have white jeans to come and have a go.  Just wear your jodhpurs (unless you have some white jeans and want to wear them)
How do I get started? We hold stick and ball training sessions at Tidworth polo club, Tedworth House, Tidworth on the practice ground on many Sundays throughout the summer.

POLO TRAINING AT TIDWORTH:

There is also a Pony Club Polo FaceBook page where you can find out the latest news on other Pony Club polo rallies, tournaments and events (we welcome each other to our events and rallies) also for general information and ponies wanted and for sale.
Are there matches? Yes – the summer tournaments are held in July and August.
The 3 qualifying tournaments are in late July and and the Championships are held in August at Cowdray Polo Club (Midhurst, West Sussex) .
How many are in a team? 4
How much fun is it? MASSIVE FUN – HUGE!
Come and have a go! Want to know more? Just ask, contact Ed Whittington email: cedwardwhittington@googlemail.com