COWDRAY PARK POLO CLUB: THE CLUB THAT REVIVED POLO IN ENGLAND
After second world war, John Cowdray with 10-12 ponies that were left with him built up England’s leading string of polo ponies.
30 June 2017
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After second world war, John Cowdray with 10-12 ponies that were left with him built up England’s leading string of polo ponies. To increase the number of polo enthusiasts in the area, he generously gave ponies on loan. Beginning with Cowdray, polo was gradually revived on a small scale at other clubs around the country. Cowdray Park Polo Club’s endless efforts to revive polo in UK cannot be undermined. The efforts of John, the 3rd Viscount Cowdray, lead to this achievement of the club in reviving polo. Father of the present Viscount, he turned Cowdray Park into one of the most famous polo clubs in the world – firmly establishing its place at the very pinnacle of the sport both nationally and internationally.
Although John broke his left arm at Dunkirk, this did not keep the 3rd Viscount from continuing to be part of the sport he loved. With help from Churchill, his gun makers, he had an artificial arm adapted at the Roehampton Limb-Fitting Centre so that he could hold the reins with a hook. Impressed by the relaunch of British Polo, John Cowdray’s team was invited to compete in Buenos Aires in 1949 which proved to be a huge success and marked a significant step in the recovery of British polo.
Four years later, Cowdray Park hosted England’s first big post war international tournament, The Coronation Cup, first presented in 1911 to celebrate the coronation of King George V. Teams from England, the U.S.A, Argentina and Chile who competed and the finals drew a crowd of more than 10,000 people, including HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. In 1956 the country’s premier High Goal tournament, the Cowdray Park Gold Cup was inaugurated. The Gold Cup welcomed its Golden Jubilee in 2006 with due celebration.
The current chairman is Peter Barfoot with Vice President as Hon Mrs Lila Pearson. Polo has been played at Cowdray Park for over 100 years with 450 matches held each season. The main attraction includes the annual British Open Polo Championship, for the Gold Cup, which was first sponsored by Veuve Clicquot, and now by Jaeger-LeCoultre, The Gold Cup tournament starts at the end of June and runs until the Final late in July.
Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty within Viscount Cowdray’s 16,500 acre estate in West Sussex, Cowdray Park is recognized worldwide as the home of British Polo.
Although John broke his left arm at Dunkirk, this did not keep the 3rd Viscount from continuing to be part of the sport he loved. With help from Churchill, his gun makers, he had an artificial arm adapted at the Roehampton Limb-Fitting Centre so that he could hold the reins with a hook. Impressed by the relaunch of British Polo, John Cowdray’s team was invited to compete in Buenos Aires in 1949 which proved to be a huge success and marked a significant step in the recovery of British polo.
Four years later, Cowdray Park hosted England’s first big post war international tournament, The Coronation Cup, first presented in 1911 to celebrate the coronation of King George V. Teams from England, the U.S.A, Argentina and Chile who competed and the finals drew a crowd of more than 10,000 people, including HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. In 1956 the country’s premier High Goal tournament, the Cowdray Park Gold Cup was inaugurated. The Gold Cup welcomed its Golden Jubilee in 2006 with due celebration.
The current chairman is Peter Barfoot with Vice President as Hon Mrs Lila Pearson. Polo has been played at Cowdray Park for over 100 years with 450 matches held each season. The main attraction includes the annual British Open Polo Championship, for the Gold Cup, which was first sponsored by Veuve Clicquot, and now by Jaeger-LeCoultre, The Gold Cup tournament starts at the end of June and runs until the Final late in July.
Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty within Viscount Cowdray’s 16,500 acre estate in West Sussex, Cowdray Park is recognized worldwide as the home of British Polo.
