Getting ready for Chestertons Polo in the Park

by Diana · Published June 6, 2017 · Updated June 6, 2017

Chestertons Polo in the Park is only three days away!!! And I am clearly very excited. I love this event and travel from near and far every year to attend. You can read more about my previous experiences on the links at the bottom of this page.

When people ask me why I love Chestertons Polo in the Park so much, I beam with excitement and smile from ear to ear and say “It is just so much fun!” and it really is! Just imagine 10.000 stylish people gathered in a massive party surrounding the best sport in the world, what is not to love?!

The atmosphere at Chestertons Polo in the Park is just special and fun, the rules of the game are slightly amended to make it more spectator friendly and easier to understand.

Some of the more noteworthy changes are:

Smaller pitch size and arena style high boards – don’t lean over too far or you might “accidentally” touch a polo player
Three players per team rather than four
Teams only switch ends at half time, opposed to after every goal
They play with a larger inflatable ball instead of the regular hard plastic ball – this is mainly for safety, but tends to give a more entertaining match as “The ball has a mind of its own.” as stated by La Martina Brand Ambassador Malcolm Borwick during the CPITP team draw cocktail party at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park.

In regular grass polo the teams switch ends after each goal, at CPITP the switch at half time

Up close and personal with the spectators

The team line-ups can be found here, and I must admit that I am totally biased rooting for friends (albeit on different teams) and they are definitely players to keep an eye on:

Max Charlton – handicap: 7 – British – EFG Team Zurich— he started at 12 and has been named “one to watch” for many years, just last year he won the “Most Outstanding British Professional” award at The Polo Awards.

Max Charlton playing for Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park team Hong Kong in 2016

Juan Cruz Guevara – Handicap: 6 – Argentinian – Air Europa Team Buenos Aires – I have seen Juancho play on various grounds, mostly in Dubai where he played on the Habtoor Polo team. I am always watching him, as he is a friend of mine, but also extremely talented, he can tap-tap-tap that ball away and make tricky manoeuvres – A bit of a show-off, but we do all enjoy his flare.

Juan Cruz Guevara

Malcolm Borwick – handicap: 6 – British – Mint Team London – Malcolm is the classic English polo player, a true gentleman. Plays a fair game and is always in good spirits regardless of the result. A man truly passionate about the sport and promoting it, which sees him travelling the globe with countless events and activities – most recently with Prince Harry at the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup in Singapore.

Post match chat with Malcolm Borwick (on the right) and George Spencer-Churchill last year

The event is over three days – Friday 9th, Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th of June in central London at the Hurlingham Park. Each day has a theme to it. Friday is the kick-start and we get to witness the International Match – a new tradition where the ICM Capital England team meets a new team from a different nation each year. This year they will be playing against Champions Polo League India. The match is set to be played at 7 pm (5 pm tickets are only 15 pounds for those of you who can’t escape the office before, click here)

Saturday is always Ladies’ Day and the afternoon Tea is as delicious as the bubbly Lanson Champagne. Best dressed ladies are chosen and awarded prizes. I love wandering around spotting great outfits. Remember to use the #MyPoloStyle hashtag on posts. Check out this blog post for inspiration.

Hoping for more sun than last year’s Ladies Day, but the champers will flow regardless.

Sunday is a family day, the event sets off with a pitch invasion of inflatable ponies for kids to give a go at polo and lots of other fun activities.

All days feature a large and fun-filled Mahiki Bar with colorful cocktails in pineapples and coconuts, a food court with London’s best food trucks and a shopping village with treasures and those perfect accessories to complete your polo outfit. Or buy a new outfit in the two-storey La Martina shop, which will be debuting their Capsule Collection at the event, this is also where you can meet the players after each match.

Jamie, Charlie, myself and Max from team Hong Kong in the La Martina tent. #WeArePolo

There is really something for everyone and with a discount code from La Martina (LAMARTINAPOLO gives you 5 pounds off your ticket) it is time to grab your friends and head to Hurlingham Park for the “Start-of-the-summer polo party everyone talks about”

Previous blog posts about Chestertons polo in the Park can be found here:

http://polopeopleplaces.comchestertons-polointhepark/

http://polopeopleplaces.comfinals-day-at-chestertons-polo-in-the-park/

http://polopeopleplaces.comchestertons-polo-in-the-park-day-1/

http://polopeopleplaces.compolo-in-the-park/