POLO- THE KING OF SPORTS

Polo, once seen as a sport dominated by kings and the ruling class originally dating back to 600 BC, has never enjoyed such a mass appeal as it does today.

It is estimated that there are 1 billion polo fans worldwide and the sport is played in over 80 countries.

The popularity of polo is buoyed on even more by the fact that in this gorgeous Spanish climate, every day is geared towards being outside in the sunshine and beautiful green grass settings of the polo fields, where people can soak up the atmosphere, speed, thrill and adrenaline that comes with viewing a high-octane polo match.

What else is good about the polo is you don’t necessarily have to be a major sports or equestrian fan to enjoy it. The rules are simple and laid out for you, matches don’t drag on like they can with a dull nil all football match.

There are invariably always goals and each match lasts 40 minutes but is broken up into 4 units or chukkas as they are known, lasting 7 and a half minutes each. This, in comparison to other drawn out sports tournaments, makes matches short and intense. Plus, the game is beautiful to watch. Lithe polo horses working in unison with daring polo players chasing the 110mph polo ball around the field with menacing looking mallets. If it sounds like something like a Jilly Cooper novel, it is! Probably another reason for the increasing numbers of women spectators at the polo.

There is also a real touch of glamour associated with the polo. It is where men and women can come and dress up, wear panama hats, sip Pimms and champagne whilst watching the game. Polo’s origins as a game of King’s,ll has added to the glamour of events. And even today it is a game consistently played by royalty and society. Prince William and Harry are both players and fans of polo and our cover girl Cara Delevigne is often seen at matches.

Floaty fabrics for women and crisp designer shirts are the look of the moment for August polo – if you’re not sure what to wear check out our Polo Fashion Photoshoot for some stunning looks from in and around the best boutiques in Marbella and surrounding areas.

Where to Watch the Polo This Summer

The Santa María Polo Club in Sotogrande is hosting the 43^rd Land Rover International Tournament – considered one of the top 4 polo tournaments in the world.

This edition is expected to be the greatest ever of the whole history of the tournament, with the best teams in the world and more commercial and entertainment activities than any other edition.

This summer alone, there are expected to be 136 players, 1,200 horses and over 500 employees present in Sotogrande. Polo fans can enjoy this unique spectacle involving 5 of the best players in the world, attracting fans of polo from all over the world.

This year the economic impact is expected to be around €25m. In addition to a media return to the area as a tourist destination worth over €16m.

Plus the main polo arena, Los Pinos, will be open every day of the summer, from July 25 to August 31, with matches played every day.

Los Pinos will host the usual Shopping Village featuring fashion from many top Spanish and international brands including a Santa Maria Polo Club boutique, new interior pop up stores and a restaurant which will be opened by Sodexo Prestige.

At night, After Sotogrande Polo, will be the exclusive evening meeting point with the sponsor of Bacardi Group, where guests can party into the early hours of the morning.

The Gold Cup, the highlight of the summer activities, totals 120 points of the world polo ranking for players. There are also 80 points available in The Silver Cup.

The 43^rd International Tournament attracts the best players and international media companies. Production teams come over to Sotogrande for their live coverage in all the major countries of Europe, Latin America and the U.S.A.

The tournament creates a considerable increase of the economic activity in Sotogrande and neighbouring San Roque, consolidating the area as a benchmark for high quality tourism – attracting an audience of visitors with one of the largest per capita consumption of Spain.

History of Sotogrande Polo

Timeline of Events

1965 – The first polo field was built not long after Sotogrande emerged

1967 – The first ever polo tournament is played with just 4 teams

1971 – The now world famous Gold Cup starts

1973 – First edition of the Silver Cup. Sotogrande wins.

1974 – The Paniagua field is inaugurated

1985 – Rio Sotogrande I and Rio Sotogrande II are built

1987 – David Stirling arrives with 57 horses

1989- African horse sickness cancels the event

1990 – Coca-Cola and Peugeot-Talbot Spain sponsor the polo

1992 – 4 new polo fields are opened in San Enrique and Puente de Hierro

2003 – 2 out of the 4 planned Los Pinos fields are inaugurated

2005 – A record 30 teams and over 1,000 horses take part in the 34^th season

2006 – Santa Maria Polo Club achieves the Royal order of Merit in Sport

2008 – New facilities including a 2.500m2 pavilion are built

2011 – 40^th Anniversary of the Gold Cup

A Beginner’s Guide to Polo

In case you’re not already a seasoned polo fan, Marbella Rocks gives you a quick lesson in what to expect while watching the polo.

Each team consists of 4 players; Number 3 is the captain, who commands the team and pivots between attack and defence. Number 4 (also known as the “back”) is responsible for defence and being the goal defender, while Numbers 1 and 2 are the attackers.

A standard polo playing field is 274 metres by 146 metres wide. All polo players must be right handed to avoid injury. The game consists of four to eight 7 and half-minute chukkas, depending on region played. Europe has 4. There is a 5 minute interval between chukkas and a 10 minute interval between halftime, where players swap ends.

Goal posts are set at each end of the field and to score, players have to hit the ball between the goals. Interestingly, there is no height limit for the goal scored.

If the ball goes wide of the goal the defending team is allowed a free ‘knock-in” from where the ball crossed the goal line, getting the ball back in play quickly.

John Alexander Santos

Director of Cadogan Events & Chelsea Polo, insights on Polo in UK

Polo is thought to have originated in China and Persia around 2,000 years ago. The first recorded game took place in 600 BC between the Turkomans and Persians. Polo today is led by Argentina and England.

In England the equestrian sport of Polo has grown considerably in popularity with such events as the Cartier International (now sponsored by Audi) at Guards Polo Club playing an important role in maximising its awareness, although it has to be said for social glamour reasons rather than for the appreciation of the sport. Recently the sport has attracted the ‘Hello Magazine’ type readers who see celebrities attending the important polo events like the Queens Cup and suddenly it becomes part of their social rather than sporting calendar.

Celebrities and the royal family are out in full force in the summer as Audi throw their annual polo event The Audi International Polo Challenge in Ascot’s Coworth Park.

Another popular polo event is the now well-established Polo In The Park, designed to maximise accessibility and indeed greater awareness of this magnificent sport. This popular event with its international flavour attracts many Londoners which includes celebrities from film, television, fashion and music industry. They all gather sipping champagne at the Pommery Champagne Garden or The Mahiki Bar another spot to be seen at.

Polo in the Park is a unique London lifestyle event, which blends fashion, retail and gastronomy with thrilling high-octane polo, the perfect way to kick-off the summer social season.

The biggest names in high goal polo are in action at the end of July on the Queen’s Ground at Guards Polo Club, Windsor in a bid to win the Queen’s Cup. The Cartier Queen’s Cup  is watched by Her Majesty The Queen.

Cartier invite guests from the worlds of stage, screen, sport, society into the Cartier enclosure, welcoming them to the elegant reception serving Cartier champagne.

Things got off to a very hot start at the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup Final as the usual collection of polo lovers and fashionistas sip champagne under a boiling sun in Cowdray Park, Midhurst, West Sussex.

The Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup Final is the climax of the British Open Polo Championship, the tournament that every team wants to win.

Although its tenure was limited polo became part of the Olympic programme 1900-1939 its participation would take polo to a global level but the Argentineans had no match from other players and I believe the sport may have been removed due to lack of competition.

Jamie Morrison on Polo

England player Jamie Morrison talks exclusively to Marbella Rocks about the trials and tribulations of the beautiful game. I play polo at least three times a week and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my free time. I’ve represented England playing at all levels and even captained the England team at the O2 Arena in London, as well as competing all around the world. I have also been playing beach and snow polo for many years. In fact I may be coming to nearby Tarifa in September to play a Spanish tournament. There have been many personal highlights of my career but the best was playing a professional polo tournament with my Dad. You don’t see many fathers and sons appearing together in a top-level sport. It was my dad, Bryan Morrison (former manager of Pink Floyd and publisher of music by Elton John, the Bee Gees and Wham) who got me into polo. He started playing when he was about 30 (I was 14 when I started) and soon afterwards he founded the Royal Berkshire Polo Club with Prince Charles as its first member. Prince William and Prince Harry have also played with us on many occasions. Polo is totally bonkers but also the most exciting and thrilling sport to ever play. Most people do get injured, I’ve already suffered a broken knee cap, countless bruises and fractured my eye socket. But the worst polo accident was sustained by my father in 2006. He suffered severe brain injuries in a freak accident at our polo ground. He unfortunately never recovered from the accident and died in 2008, aged 66. His accident didn’t put me off playing though. I thought about it, but polo is in my blood and I know that Dad wouldn’t have wanted me to stop. At least my father died as a result of doing something he loved. I continue to help run the Royal Berkshire Polo Club – which is going from strength to strength. We are now selling our own polo label and our members, like fans of the sport, are growing rapidly.

www.rcbps.com