SUPA Universities Winter National Championships

Action from The SUPA Universities Winter National Championships 2022

A Student’s View

SUPA Universities Winter National Championships

Dann Christian Sy,

SOAS University of London reports

The 10 – 13 of February 2022 brought polo enthusiastic university students to Rugby Polo Club for the Winter Nationals Championship 2022. Organised by the Schools and Universities Polo Association (SUPA), the championship was open to multiple divisions including, beginner, median, intermediate, novice, SAPA (for alumni) open and combined sections. Attracting more than 200 teams which consisted of almost 800 players, it was the biggest polo tournament for university students in the United Kingdom.

From meeting old friends from the previous SUPA National Championship, to first time attendees eager to show their skills, the first day of the championship was filled with palpable excitement. However, first time participants like my team, the London School of Economics (LSE) Polo Team, felt a mixture of enthusiasm as well as nervousness. But in the spirit of true sportsmanship, we were welcomed warmly by players from various universities whom we had met at the Chukka Bar. Soon enough, conversations were exchanged between us, questions of “how long have you been playing polo” or “what first got you interested in polo” dominated the table. This spirit of camaraderie and shared interest in the sport then transferred to the arena whereby opposing teams would cheer for each other.

My team competed in the median division, obtaining sixth place amongst the eight teams that competed in that section. While we were unable to bring the hardware back home to London, we brought back with us a renewed passion for the sport. This newfound dedication for the sport of kings was especially heightened by the exhilarating exhibition match done on the

Saturday night of the tournament. Players JJ Sparks, Jeremy Pidgeon, Sean Wilson Smith played for the SUPA team while Max Sponer, Matias Amaya and Mikey Henderson, represented the AMOS team. Both teams showed exemplary skills and riveting quality of chukkas that left all of us in awe. After the exhibition match, the players shared a very exciting party whereby high heels took the place of polo boots and polo jerseys were replaced with theme costumes. The atmosphere was amazing, and the players stayed at the polo clubhouse dancing and enjoying the company of old and newfound peers.

On the fourth and final day of the tournament, the gloomy British weather was an accurate representation of what I and other players felt – it was time to bid adieu, albeit temporarily, to a wonderful community brought together by their love of the sport of polo. Each player, I am sure, brought home with them personal accolades made in those four days – first time scoring a goal, cantering, galloping and even the occasional falling off a horse. Along with these personal achievements, heartfelt sentiments of “I cannot wait to see you guys in the Summer Nationals” or “we should meet up sometime and play polo” were made. This heartwarming end to the entire tournament is a true testament to why polo aficionado students are eager to participate in the next nationals.

As I am now back at my study desk and away from the captivating noises of horses neighing and fellow polo players discussing game tactics, I cannot help but be truly grateful for the experience that the Winter SUPA Nationals 2022 gave to me. Polo has always held a special place in my heart. Originally from the Philippines, the sport of polo was something that always seemed so out of reach. But it was in Brunei where I had finished my undergraduate studies that I have had the great opportunity to first start playing polo. It has been one of the greatest joys in my life to then be able to play polo competitively whilst also pursuing a postgraduate degree in Diplomacy here in the UK. Moreover, SUPA has given students like me, an opportunity to proudly exhibit our dedication to the sport while also trying to balance the chaotic path of academia.

Our team Captain, Omotola Ariyo, expressed how SUPA has allowed him to showcase his passion for polo, represent his university (LSE) at a national sporting event, all the while pursuing a PhD in Law. Participating in SUPA has allowed students to demonstrate to the world that polo can take root in the most unexpected of circumstances and the endless possibilities one can achieve for as long as passion is coupled with dedication and consistency to the sport.

SUPA Universities Winter National Championships has also given students the chance pay tribute to what is dear and near to their hearts. Othman ‘Usman’ Kabir Shema, a student from Birmingham City University, paid homage to his home country, Nigeria, by forming a team consisting of his group of friends and creatively named it +234 Polo Team (+234 is the country code for Nigeria). Placing second in the Combined Lower Intermediate division, the Nationals was not only an opportunity to play polo competitively but also an avenue to bring friends closer whilst also bridging new ones

The four exciting polo tournament days would have not been possible without the hard work of Nigel Mercer and his dedicated team of SUPA organisers, as well this year’s sponsors such as Black Hound, RJ Polo and Polo Times. The organising members of the Rugby Polo Club namely Philip Baker, Alex Choma, James Stanwick and the rest of the team are to be commended for their care and dedication to a smooth and successful tournament. The horse hirers, umpires, vets, and paramedics are to be thanked for ensuring a safe event for both players and horses. Photographers of Emmpix.co.uk are also to applauded for capturing the event.

All in all, SUPA Universities Winter National Championships 2022 was a sight to behold and a great privilege to be part of. If you want to participate in this wonderful polo event, the Universities National Summer Championships 2022 will be held over 10 – 12 June 2022 at Offchurch Bury Polo Club.

SUPA Universities Winter National Championships 2022 Roll of Honour

Beginner 2 Red

1st – Warwick B2 2nd – Exeter Sobrana 3rd – Durham Dragons

Beginner 2 Blue

1st – Harper Hot to Trot 2nd – Bournemouth Panthers 3rd – Durham Mane Event

Beginner 3 Red

1st – Liverpool Tigers 2nd – Brookes B3 3rd – Liverpool Liverbirds

Beginner 4 Red

1st – Manchester Mares 2nd – Birmingham City B4 3rd – Brighton Wildcats

Beginner 4 Blue

1st – St Andrews 2nd – Yorkshire Tea 3rd – Oxford B4 MKS

Beginner Combined

1st – Birmingham/Bath 2nd – Nottingham/Cardiff 3rd – Saints Beg

Median 1

1st – Brookes M1 2nd – RVC M1 3rd – Winchey’s Gold Diggers

Novice 3 Red

1st – Stirling Scorpions 2nd – Warwick N3 3rd – Birmingham Lions

Median 2

1st – Loughborough M2 2nd – Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy 3rd – Exeter Icarus

Novice 3 Blue

1st – Harper Chukka Pies 2nd – Reading Knights 3rd – Exeter Corita

Novice 2

1st – Surrey Not Sorry 2nd – Durham Dancing Dingos 3rd – Harper Rein It In

Novice 4 Red

1st – Brighton Thunder Cats 2nd – Durham Bleached Beaches 3rd – Liverpool N4B

Novice 4 Blue

1st – Moody Mares 2nd – Oxford N4 3rd – Birmingham City

Combined Novice

1st – Cambridge Wildcats 2nd – Warwick/Nottingham 3rd – Bath/Manchester

Intermediate 2

1st – Regents 2nd – Cambridge Stingrays 3rd – Oxford Outliers

Intermediate 3

1st – Exeter Tango 2nd – Kent 3rd – Brookes

Combined Intermediate

1st – St Andrews\Imperial 2nd – +234 Polo 3rd – Knightmares

Open

1st – Oxford Blue Dragons 2nd – Cambridge Open

Open Combined

1st – Cambridge Stallions 2nd – Ringo Stars

Open SAPA

1st – Stubben 2nd – Berkshire Bengals 3rd – Oswald Lions

SAPA 2

1st – Mias Minions 2nd – El Mallin 3rd – HK Polo

Exhibition Match

1st – AMOS 2nd – SUPA Alumni

SAPA 3

1st – Mane Attraction 2nd – Londons Mane Attraction 3rd – Universally Challenged

SUPA Dates for the Diary

6 March: Senior Schools National Arena Championships at Rugby Polo Club 13 March: Junior Schools National Arena Championships at Longdole Polo Club 15 March: Ladies Schools National Arena Championships at TBC 10 June: Universities National Summer Championships at Offchurch Bury Polo Club 19 June: Senior Schools Summer National Championships at Cirencester Park Polo Club