Polo for the people
It is said that polo is the king of sports and the sport of kings. It most certainly is the king of sports, but nowadays you don’t need to have blue blood to play and enjoy the sport.
My happy place
Polo is one of the best spectator sports, in my opinion at least, as it combines a powerful and exciting game with beautiful surroundings a light atmosphere and an excellent social setting.
As there are many pauses in the game, during play and after every chukker of 7½ minutes, it allows spectators to engage in conversations without missing out on what is happening on the field, making it the perfect setting for a social gathering. Also you don’t have to be a polo expert to follow and understand the game, just know a few simple rules, which I have described in an earlier post What is polo?
My brother and I watching polo in Sotogrande
Another thing I love about the social scene at polo matches is that it is very diverse, you will see men and women who have dressed up for the occasion in fancy clothes and hats sipping expensive champagne on one side and on the other people will be wearing cut-off jeans shorts and sneakers sitting on the ground and sharing some mate (a traditional Argentinian herbal tea), so there is space for everyone and everyone is more than welcome. If you want to dress up and if you just want to sit on the grass and enjoy the power and elegance of the game, you choose. I personally love to dress up and I generally wear dresses, so I almost always go in a dress and wedge heels (important so you don’t sink in to the grass, or even worse fall over).
Stomping divots during half-time at the Dubai Polo Gold Cup 2013
Another thing is people think polo is only for the rich because it’s expensive.
Well, yes to play polo is expensive, horses and everything around them are expensive, but to watch and enjoy polo is not, most games do not have an entry fee and if they do it is generally at a very reasonable price for the grandstands (in London I have experienced it being less than a ticket to the cinema!),
On the grandstand at Chestertons Polo in the Park in London 2013
some events do have a special Champagne Brunch or VIP tents, which are of course more costly as they include food and beverage and generally have more comfortable seating. So if you like you can just grab your friends, pack up a little picnic basket (or order pizza)
We got pizza delivered at the Dubai Polo Silver Cup 2014 sidelines
and a blanket or some chairs and sit on the sidelines and enjoy the game at no cost, or on special occasions splurge on the VIP treatment with brunch and champagne, again there is something for all.
Watching from the sidelines at the Dubai Polo SIlver Cup 2014
One of my favorite polo events is the Chestertons Polo in the Park in London in the Hurlingham park. It is such a fun event and so many people attend. It is a 3-day tournament where teams from different countries battle it out on the field. There is a grandstand on one side and the VIP marquee on the other side of the pitch, there is also a food court with many different food stands and there are several bar tents, like the Mahiki bar, where you can get a Pina Colada served in a pineapple and a personal favorite the Pimm’s bus, where a pitcher of Pimm’s will cost you about 12 pounds, so very reasonable price.
Chestertons Polo in the Park 2014
the Pimm’s bus at Chestertons Polo in the Park
Serving up some Pimm’s
Watching the game from the players marquee at Chestertons Polo in the Park
Anyways I hope to inspire others to join in on the polo watching fun, if there is a polo event nearby, you should go, if you don’t know how to find out about it send me a message or comment below and I will try to find out when and where there will be a polo event near you!!
For more information on Chestertons Polo in the Park in London this year click here. And if you don’t know what to wear check out my blogpost #MyPoloStyle
