THE BRITISH OPEN POLO CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE
COWDRAY GOLD CUP SEMI
FINALS
WEDNESDAY 17 TH JULY 2024
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my great honour and privilege to welcome you all to the 2024 British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup, held here at the prestigious Cowdray Park. I am thrilled to see so many familiar faces as well as new enthusiasts who have come to witness the pinnacle of British polo. This event is not only a celebration of the sport but also a testament to the rich heritage and tradition that Cowdray Park has upheld for generations. Our grounds have seen some of the most exhilarating moments in polo history, and this year promises to be no exception.
The dedication, skill, and sportsmanship of the teams competing this year are truly remarkable, and I am confident that we are in for a series of thrilling matches.
To our players, I extend my deepest admiration for your hard work, passion, and the spirit of competition you bring to the field. Your talent and determination are the heart of this event, and we are here to celebrate each of you.
To our spectators, whether you are joining us for the first time or have been part of our community for many years, thank you for your enthusiasm and support. Your presence adds a vibrant energy to this event, and it is your passion for the sport that makes the Cowdray Gold Cup such a special occasion.
Welcome to the Cowdray Gold Cup 2024. Let the games begin!
Michael Cowdray
09:30 Gates open
TIMINGS
11:00 Roda Polo: Match 1
12:00 Match 1 - The Ellerston Cup
12:45 Half time competitions
13:30 Ellerston Cup Prize Giving
15:00 Roda Polo: Match 2
16:00 Match 2 - The Tramontana Cup
16:45 Half time competitions
17:30 Tramontana Cup Prize Giving
19:30 Last orders
WHAT’S ON TODAY
SHOPPING
» Boat Club Trafalgar
» George & James Architects
» Emita Polo
» IMV - Capazos
» Claire Fort Artist
» Finlay
» Augustine Jewels
» Memsahib Collection / Melissa Lo
» A Passion 4 Polo
» Encompass Furniture Ltd
» Bluewater International AG
» Finishing Touches
» Estribos Argentina
» and more
FOOD & DRINK
» Gusbourne
» No.3 Gin
» The Three Cockerels Bar
» De Luca’s Ice Cream
» Forest Hogs
» Howie’s Coffee
» Lisa’s Pizza Oven
» SWA Burger
» Ollie’s Loaded Fries
» Symonds Event Bars
PARTNER ACTIVATIONS:
Our Official Gin Partner No.3 will be giving four lucky spectators at the Gold Cup Semi-finals the chance to win a range of No.3 Gin gifts. Look out for their iconic key, dropped on the field during the treading of the divots to win. There are two keys available during each match, return the keys to the No.3 Gin bar to claim a bottle of their awardwinning Gin and a set of beautiful highball glasses. The winners must be aged over 18 to redeem the key. ID will be requested.
Gusbourne are giving spectators the chance to win an exclusive collectors’ membership worth £800. Look out for the QR code to enter by visiting the Gusbourne terrace. The winner will receive a yearlong membership with quarterly deliveries of fine and limited-edition wines. Terms and conditions apply.
The U.S. Polo Assn. token drop will also return for 2024. Every half time, one token worth £250 in apparel will be dropped on the field for our lucky spectators to find. Find the token and return it to the U.S. Polo Assn. tent to claim the coveted prize.
1
Members’ Only Grandstand
Private Enclosures
Pearson Private Pagodas
Lawns Enclosure
Brooks Enclosure
Members’ Enclosure
Gazebo Picnic Area
Public Picnic Area
Horseboxes and Players’ Parking
Centenary Front Row Parking
Pearson Pagodas and Brooks Enclosure
Members’ Parking
Ruins Front Row Parking
Members’ Parking
Members’ Overflow Parking
Public Parking
Disabled Parking First Aid Toilets Shops
SHOWTIME
FRIDAY 19 TH JULY 2024
5.30p m » start | 10p m » end
THE ELLERSTON CUP
The Ellerston Cup is solid silver. The cup has two scroll handles with acanthus caps. It has a circular stemmed pedestal base mounted on to a shaped cut corner square wooden plinth surrounded by silver plates. These plates are engraved with past winners from 2007 to the present day.
The body of the cup is engraved with ‘The Ellerston Cup’. The Ellerston Cup was introduced in 2007, along with the Tramontana Cup, these cups are presented to the winners of the Gold Cup semi-finals.
HALLMARKED: SHEFFIELD 1923
MAKERS MARK: JAMES DEAKIN AND SONS
THE TRAMONTANA CUP
The Tramontana Cup is solid silver. This cup is a large Victorian vase shaped trophy and has two reeded loop handles and a gilded inside, with a leaf decoration on the base of the bowl. It has a circular pedestal base which is mounted on a wooden plinth surrounded by a single silver band. This band is engraved with past winners from 2006 to the present day.
The body of the cup is engraved with ‘Cowdray Park Polo Club. The Tramontana Trophy.’ And has the Cowdray Park Polo Club crest engraved onto it.
HALLMARKED: LONDON 1893
MAKERS MARK: CHARLES STUART HARRIS
THE CHRISTOPHER HANBURY TROPHY
The Christopher Hanbury Trophy is awarded to the Best Mounted English Player in the Gold Cup.
Major Christopher Hanbury, sadly passed away on 10 May 2022, aged 78. His family have dedicated a cup in his name to the Gold Cup Semi Final.
In 2005 he was appointed chairman of the Hurlingham Polo Association, a position he held until 2008. He was one of the most significant figures in polo, internationally renowned
with friends and colleagues all over the world.
Major and Mrs Hanbury’s sons Charlie and George took on the reins of polo with the same enthusiasm and won the Gold Cup in 2018 for their all-English team.
The Hanbury Cup represents the lasting impact that Christopher dedicated and built in the polo world. He was much loved by all those who knew him, especially for his legendary sense of humour and his affable, caring demeanour. We thank the Hanbury family for providing this cup and working with Cowdray Park Polo Club to honour Christopher Hanbury at the Gold Cup.
BEST PLAYING PONY RUGS
Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) is British Horseracing’s official charity for the welfare of horses that have retired from racing.
RoR’s Vision is for all former racehorses to enjoy a good life. ‘A life wellloved is a life well lived’ and our Mission is to safeguard the wellbeing of all former racehorses by:
» Setting and assuring retraining standards to support their successful transition out of racing and provide training and education for their new owners to help develop lifetime partnerships.
» Creating an engaged and engaging RoR community.
» Increasing the demand for former racehorses by promoting their versatility in a wide variety of equestrian activities and provide opportunities for participation in competitions.
» And on behalf of the racing industry, we will keep track of them and support any former racehorse in need.
RoR annually stages over 40 separate competition series across 15 different disciplines, catering for all levels of ability, from grassroots to elite. For the 10,000 plus thoroughbreds currently registered with RoR, there is an abundance of opportunities to compete against one another in disciplines such as dressage and showing, as well as bespoke series and classes in another dozen activities. Consequently, there is now an increasing demand for former racehorses among the wider equestrian community.
THE ELLERSTON CUP
THE TRAMONTANA CUP
RODA POLO TOURNAMENT 2024
WHAT IS RODA POLO?
A 3-a-side sport where you can experience the speed, teamwork and dynamics of polo in the UK - riding an e-wheel.
WHERE DID IT START?
In 2019 former Argentine polo player Javier Tanoira spotted kids riding their eWheels on the polo field and enjoying tapping the ball - Javier thought they might be on to something. After giving it a go himself, he became instantly hooked. Javier is keen to promote the new sport to the UK and has teamed up with former England Polo Team Captain, Henry Brett, to help expand Roda Polo to the UK.
Ina Del Carril
Justo Del Carril 3 Jaime Del Carril
Juan Muzzio
Alejandro Muzzio
Santiago Muzzio
Teo Zevaoglu
Pedro Sola
Florencio Lanusse
Indalecio Pieres
Vincente Di Paola
Inigo Heguy
SOCIAL MEMBERSHIP
Social membership at Cowdray Park Polo Club offers a relaxed and beautiful setting for all to enjoy the ‘Game of Kings’. As the home of British polo, Cowdray Park Polo Club prides itself on making polo accessible to all.
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
» Free entry to all polo matches, including the Gold Cup semi-finals and final, for a member and guest (excluding junior membership)
» Over 25 reciprocal sporting events – full calendar to be launched pre-season
» Access to the Clubhouse and Members’ enclosure at all matches
» Complimentary diary, a commemorative badge and car pass
» Invitations to all the Club’s social events and exclusive members events throughout the season
» Regular e-newsletters with match reports, club updates and the seasons latest news
» Preferential rate at the Clubhouse at Ambersham
» A complimentary copy of the CPPC Yearbook
Join us at cowdraypolo.co.uk/membership
OPEN EVERY DAY 1 ST - 26 TH AUGUST 2024
After the success of last summer’s event, the Maize Maze is returning this year with a theme of ‘Farming Through the Ages’. It features a stamp trail, viewing platform as well as teas, coffees and light refreshments provided by the Farm Shop Café.There is even a Cowdray Lifestyle pop-up to browse in.
£6 per person | Three year olds and under go free Book your tickets www.cowdray.co.uk/maize-maze
FOLLOW THE ACTION
KEEP UP TO DATE
» COWDRAY TV
Purchase your tournament pass via our website to watch all the games in the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup 2024.
» SOCIALS
Instagram / Facebook / X: @cowdraypolo
LinkedIn: Cowdray Park Polo Club
» WEBSITE
Follow all the action leading up to the final stages of the British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup on our website cowdraypolo.co.uk
SATURDAY 20 TH JULY 2024
5.30p m » start | 11.30p m » end LAWNS POLO GROUNDS GU29 0AJ
GUIDE TO POLO
The object of Polo is for a team to score more goals than its opposition to win the game. Each team of four is made up of attackers and defenders, but all members of a polo team are expected to be flexible and make any play whether offensive or defensive and change position as necessary to benefit the team.
PLAYERS HANDICAPS
Each player is given a handicap from -2 to 10 goals depending on his ability. The lowest handicap is -2 and 10 is the highest. A team’s handicap rating is calculated by adding together the 4 players’ handicaps. The handicap of teams entering the Cowdray Gold Cup is 20-22 goals.
THE TEAM
A team is made up of 4 players with each numbered 1 to 4. Each position has a purpose; No.1 and No.2 are the forwards, No.3 is the pivot position (usually the best player in the team) and No.4 (or Back) is the goal defender.
DURATION OF PLAY
Matches are divided into chukkas. In the UK, there are between 4 and 6 chukkas in a match, the number of which depends on the level of the polo (low goal – 4 chukkas, medium goal – 5 chukkas, high goal – 6 chukkas). Each chukka lasts 7 minutes, with an interval of 3 minutes between each one. At half time, the interval is extended and spectators are invited onto the pitch to tread in the divots. The bell is rung at the end of each 7-minute period. Play continues until the ball goes out of play, the umpire stops play for a foul, or the bell is rung for a second time 30 seconds after the first bell. In the final chukka, the match ends after the first bell.
UMPIRES & MATCH OFFICIALS
There are 2 mounted umpires on the pitch following the game and a third man (or referee) in the stands who acts as the arbitrator if the umpires cannot agree. There is a goal judge behind each goal and they will wave a flag when a goal is scored. The scorer and the timekeeper record the goals and track the timing and sound the bell at the end of each chukka.
CHANGING ENDS
Polo is probably the only game in which the teams change ends when a goal is scored, thus equalling out any ground or weather advantage.
THE START
Play starts with the umpire throwing in the ball between the two teams lined up in front of him. In the same way play is restarted after a goal is scored or if the ball goes out over the side boards. If the ball goes over the back line, there is a hit-in by the defending team. There is no offside in polo.
GUIDE TO POLO CONTINUED
RULES OF PLAY
Right of Way – During play there is an imaginary “line of the ball”, which is generally the direction in which the ball is travelling at any one moment. When a player has established the right of way along that line, it may not be crossed by an opposing player if there is the slightest risk of collision. Crossing – Any player who crosses the player holding the right of way close enough to be dangerous or cause a player to slow up, commits a foul.
Riding Off – pushing another player and his horse out of the way using your horse is permitted, whether the other man is playing the ball or not. But it must not be done by charging in at a dangerous angle, nor must the man in possession of the ball be crossed.
Hooking sticks – A player may hook an opponent’s stick provided he is on the same side of the opponent as the ball, or directly behind him, and provided the stick is below the level of the opponent’s shoulder. Players must not attempt to hook an opponent in front of the pony’s legs.
PENALTIES
Different types of penalties are awarded depending of the nature of the foul:
• Penalty No 1 – Automatic goal
• Penalty No 2 – 30 yd hit to an open goal
• Penalty No 3 – 40 yd hit to an open goal
• Penalty No 4 – 60 yd hit to a defended goal
• Penalty No 5 – A hit from the spot where the foul was committed
• Penalty No 5B – A hit from the centre of the ground. This is used when the defending team are attacking from their own half.
HEALTH & SAFETY
We very much hope that you will enjoy your day at Cowdray Park Polo Club, where accidents are very rare BUT polo is a dangerous sport.
Neither CPPC nor the Cowdray Estate can accept any responsibility for injuries to persons or property on this ground. The following safety rules must be observed:
» Please ensure that you watch the movement of the ball during play at all times and keep yourselves, friends, family and dogs out of the safety zone area.
» Please ensure you supervise your children who will not be as diligent as you.
» Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times.
» All guest access to the pony lines, lorry parking areas and agricultural machinery is strictly forbidden.
» Alcohol may be consumed only by those aged eighteen or over. We operate a ‘Challenge 25’ policy in all bars.
» No private barbecues allowed.
» Vehicles are admitted on condition that Cowdray Park Polo Club shall not be liable for damage to any vehicle. Anything in or on or about any vehicle howsoever such a loss or damage may be caused.
» Please report any suspicious packages to a member of staff
Cowdray Park Polo Club has a duty of care to all Gold Cup attendees and wishes everyone an enjoyable time. Anyone judged to be putting themselves or others at risk may be asked to leave the grounds by officials of the club.
Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 0AQ
COWDRAY PARK POLO CLUB