POLO COMPETITION

POLO COMPETITION

Nothing conjours up notions of old England than immaculately turned out ponies and the swing of a polo mallet, but Polo in today society is not only for the landed gentry, but is played throughout all Australian states and its following is steadily growing in numbers.

Polo is thought by many to have originated in China or Persia around 2000 years ago, with the first recorded game taking place in 600BC between the Turkomans and Persians. However, it was not until the 1850s that the British discovered the game and founded it's first club on the Burmese border with India. British soldiers and navel officers transported the game back to their hallowed isle, before it was introduced in 1876 by Lt. Col Thomas Quintin, of the 10th Hussars, into Australia.  From there it has grown from strength to strength, being played by over 77 countries worldwide.

From its ancient beginnings, Polo has been developed into a competitve sport with a myriad of rules and regulations governed by the Federation of International Polo (or FIP).  However the game may have changed, the concept is simple, with four players per team.  No.1 player being the offensive player and No.4 the defensive player, whilst players No.1 and 2 support each other to stem the opposing teams offense and convert the plays.  A full game is 8 periods, or "chukkas" which are 7 minutes in length, the brevity of each period due to assuring the polo ponies are not unduly exhausted from galloping up and down the field.  As this is a fast paced sport, a fresh pony will be used for each chukka in many professional matches.

Polo has shown its strength through time as an enduring sport which has taken thousands of years to perfect.  Its popularity demonstrates what a powerhouse sport it is within the equestrian community.  With speed and agility needed for high class competition, Polo has won the hearts of the Australian public, and will continue to do so for many years more.