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Polo in the city

By March 1, 2019October 17th, 2023Newsletter

Polo in the city

March 1, 2019

Polo-in-the-City-events
Polo, a game that is synonymous with England’s aristocracy, is alive and well in Australia with regular tournaments taking place throughout the year. Land Rover’s Polo in the City is an annual polo series that takes place in the cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth.

 

 

Australia’s polo talent in action

 

Polo in the City gives local Australians and many international visitors the chance to see some of Australia’s best professional polo talent in action. The event showcases leading players in a sport that has been gracing this earth for the past two thousand years!

 

The origins of polo

 

Polo started approximately 2500 years ago in Persia as a way of training mounted cavalry. The most widespread form of polo is comprised of the Hurlingham Rules and is administered by the Federation of International Polo. Today Polo is played around the world in over 50 countries with the dominant nations being Argentina, Britain and the USA. Other polo-mad countries included Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Dubai, China, Spain and Chile.

 

History of Polo in South Africa

 

Although the British cavalry regiments initially played Polo, it was introduced to South Africa by the British infantry – the Gordon Highlanders – who were sent to the Cape Province. The first recorded game occurred in Cape Town in October 1874 at the Parade Ground between the Gordon Highlanders and the Cape Mounted Rifles.  In 1906 the South African Polo Association was created at Durban’s Royal Hotel. The South African Polo Association is affiliated to the two leading world bodies of polo – the Hurlingham Polo Association  & Federation and the Internacionale de Polo. Today there are approximately 38 clubs across South Africa.

 

The rise of Urban Polo

 

Urban Polo is a variant of polo and was developed in Australia in 2005 with the aim of bringing the sport into the twentieth century and making it more appealing to spectators. It involves a smaller field, which brings the action closer to the viewers and various rule changes that make the game faster and more exciting to watch.

 

Land Rover Polo in the City forms part of the Urban Polo Circuit and is regarded as the world’s largest national polo series of any kind. It is also regarded as the Australian polo market leader, combining premium performance, hospitality and luxury.

 

The Polo in the City circuit

 

Polo in the City starts on Saturday 16th of November 2019 at Sydney’s Centennial Park. The next event takes place in Brisbane on Saturday 24 November 2019 at Dorrington Park followed by an event in Melbourne on 30 November 2019 at Albert Park. The action then moves to Perth on 7 December 2019 at Langley Park and culminates in Adelaide on 13 December 2019 at Victoria Park.

 

 

An event not to be missed

 

Polo in the City is regarded by everyone ‘in society’ as an event not to be missed. The fashion stakes are high and almost as eye-catching as the performance on the field. Although Polo in the City is only taking place towards the end of 2019, tickets to this event are already being sold as everyone ensures their places at a day filled with spectacular sport, fine food and good company.

 

Polo is not only a lifestyle sport. Almost everyone who tries polo falls madly in love with the sport and before you know it, Polo is on your mind 24/7 and all conversations and actions have something to do with Polo. All you want to do is get up on that pony and swing a mallet.

 

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