Swot up on the rules of polo — in 60 seconds
With the Coronation Cup at Guards Polo Club looming (Saturday 23 July), when England will take on the Commonwealth, watch Land Rover's 60-second video to swot up on the rules and etiquette of the game
This Saturday (23 July 2016) a stellar England team, led by captain James Beim, will take on the Commonwealth team for The Royal Salute Coronation Cup at Guards Polo Club.
James will be joined by seven-goaler Max Charlton (who made his Coronation Cup debut last year), the experienced six-goaler James Harper and 24-year-old Jack Richardson (six goals).
The Commonwealth team, named in honour of The Queen in her 90th birthday year, will be captained by Canadian Freddie Mannix. At eight goals, he will be the highest handicapped player on the pitch. Mannix will be joined by Kiwi John Paul Clarkin (seven goals), South African Chris Mackenzie (six goals) and Pakistani Hissam Ali Hyder (six goals).
Before the fast-paced action — and pitch side glamour — kicks off, Land Rover ambassador Max Charlton, recaps on the rules and etiquette of the game:
The facts
- A polo field is the size of five rugby pitches
- Each of the two teams has four players
- Each player has a handicap score
- The match is made up of six seven-minute periods
- Teams change end after every goal
The shots
- Offside forehand
- Offside backhand
- Neck shot
- Cut shot
- Nearside backhand
Style and etiquette
- Gentlemen — chinos, shirt, blazer
- Ladies — dresses, skirts, accessories — and flat shoes!
General admission tickets cost £20 for the Coronation Cup. Find out more at www.guardspoloclub.com
Following the Coronation Cup a second international match will kick off between Ireland and Young England.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Read the full report from the Coronation Cup in the 28 July issue of Horse & Hound magazine
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A graduate from Durham University, Madeleine joined H&H in 2011 and became Features Editor — producing content across the magazine and website, including the popular inside back cover article ‘The horse that made me’ and the weekly ‘The best of my fun…’ interview. She has written on topics as diverse as hay making and headcams, to hot totty in the horse world and circus horses. Madeleine now works as a freelance feature writer for Country Life, The Telegraph, Horse & Hound, cntraveller.com, The Spectator and The Field, as well as writing obituaries for The Times.