Feature
Interview: Tommy Severn
Tommy Severn Having started in The Pony Club at grass roots level, Tommy Severn has since won some of the most sought after medium goal tournaments in the UK, and due to his passion for the sport accompanied by impressive horsepower this year saw his handicap raised to 4 goals. Fresh from his latest polo exploits in India, Polo Times caught up with Tommy Severn as he talks about horses, family and of course polo!
Do you feel that being from a polo family has been beneficial and in which way? Absolutely, without my family, and especially my grandfather [Christopher Hanbury], I would definitely not be playing. We have a huge family and my grandfather is unbelievably generous and loved watching us all play against each other when we were younger. Through that I always wanted to play competitively and watching my uncles play, further inspired me to play. Lovelocks Polo Stud has been hugely beneficial in my career and has also made me passionate about the breeding. Where did you grow up? I grew up just outside Cirencester and I was fortunate that my grandfather owned Longdole Polo Club, which we neighboured with, so we would always ride and play there. I was also very lucky that we spent the winters at El Remanso in Argentina. We would take the spring term out of school and go with family and tutors so we could continue with school and play polo at the same time.
mentors/help. My grandfather and Charlie Hanbury have always pushed me. Rob Cudmore, who taught me to play and ride, always said I could play professionally if I wanted to, and he really got me passionate about the game. From a young age, I would spend a lot of time with him around the yard and playing. In more recent years, Will Lucas has been a huge help, in advising me daily on what to do and helping me with any problems I have.
“I always wanted to play competitively and watching my uncles play further inspired me to play”
Where do you call home now? I am currently still living at home, however I am hoping to move to the Windsor area next summer
Do you have an early polo / equestrian memory you would like to share? I played The Potrillos in Argentina with Jeta and Barto Castagnola when I was about 11-years-old which was epic, even though we lost. I also remember vividly The Jorrocks Final in 2009, when it was a big game between Cotswold and OS&B. My team mate was being sick before the game because he was so nervous, and we were doing anything we could to win. I even tried pulling Valentine Hutley’s reins! We still lost.
Which family members / member of the polo community inspired you to take up the sport professionally? I have been lucky to have had a lot of good
Any ponies from the past that you would like to single out? I had an amazing grey pony that I learnt to play on called “Sammy” which I think did
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Polo Times, November 2020
www.polotimes.co.uk
