Royal Navy Polo
The 2020 polo season has had a rather slow start, so I thought I'd take the opportunity of some free time to go through my archive and put together some new galleries. One that has given me a fair bit of fun was the Royal Navy Polo gallery.
I first saw the Royal Navy Polo Team at a tournament organised by the Honourable Artillery Company Saddle Club on a makeshift polo pitch on Thorney Island in September 2007. Since then, I've seen a lot of the Navy players and grown to know them. They are a nice bunch.
Polo was brought to the UK from India by the British Army cavalry regiments and that it was first played here on a ground that is now somewhere under Heathrow airport. The first games were chaos, but after the rules were codified something like the current game developed. The Royal Navy’s polo heritage extends back as early as the 1860s.
Polo needs skill, bravery, commitment and teamwork. It's an ideal military sport and as you would expect, it's something the Royal Navy is good at. I've put together this photo blog to celebrate their achievements and to remind us of what we can look forward to in the future. Eventually.
of a great group of people and to
If you like these photos, I've added a Royal Navy Polo gallery.
Polo skills
Striking a polo ball at the gallopImage from the Hackett Rundle Cup 2017
Polo played at Tidworth Polo Club on 8th July 2017.
Polo played at the gallopThe Royal Navy polo Team in action against the RAF polo team during the Duke of York's cup
Polo skills on display during the Rundle CupThe Hackett Rundle Cup 2016 played at Tidworth Polo Club on July 9th 2016
Polo played at speedPolo played at Tedworth Park Polo Club on 1st June 2019 during the Duke of York's Cup
Royal Navy polo player sticking off a Hackett Army Polo Team player Polo played at Tidworth Polo Club on 5th August 2018 during the Leadership and Excellence Cup
But there are times the skills fall over, as do the goal posts.
Rayal Navy polo player knocking down a goal postThe Adjutant General's Corps Cup 2016 played at Tidworth Polo Club
Polo bravery
A Royal Navy polo player trying to stop a Hackett Army Polo team player from playing the ballThe Hackett Rundle Cup 2016 played at Tidworth Polo Club on July 9th 2016
Royal Navy player stopping an Army playerThe AGC Polo Cup played at Tidworth on August 30th 2010.
Sometimes bravery is not enough and you have to fall back on being lucky
A loose dog running in front of Prince Harry and a Royal Navy playerA loose dog running immediately in front of Prince harry and a Navy Polo player during the Hackett Rundle Cup. Polo played at Tidworth Polo Club on 12 July 2014
Polo commitment
The polo ride offA member of the Coldstream Guards polo team rides off against a member of the Royal Navy Polo Team during the 2008 Captains and subalterns Polo Tournament at Tidworth polo Club
An RAF polo player riding off a royal Navy PlayerHeroes Polo Day held at Tidworth Polo Club including the Duke of York Cup
A polo ride off between a member of the Hackett Army Polo Team and a royal Navy playerThe Royal Navy Polo Team in action during the 2019 Hackett Rundle Cup, played at Tidworth Polo Club
Polo teamwork
The Royal Navy Polo TeamThe AGC Polo Cup, played at Tidworth Polo Club on Monday 28th August 2017.
Royal Navy Polo teamworkPolo Played at Tidworth Polo club on 28th May 2017 during the Duke of York's Cup
Royal Navy polo take on Taunton Polo played at Tidworth between Royal Navy Polo and Taunton.
The Royal Navy Polo Team a very friendly group and show respect for their opponents
Respect beteen opponentsThe Hackett Rundle Cup 2016
Respect for opponentsShaking hands with an RAF player after the Duke of York's Cup
Fleet Air Arm player shaking hands with a Light Dragoons player after a gameThe Adjutant General's Corps Cup 2016
Hackett Army Polo Team and Royal Navy Polo Team players greet each other before their gamePhotos from the Hackett Rundle Cup 2017
After the games there's the presentations. The Royal Navy gets a lot of trophies.
Silverware
The Royal Navy Plolo Team and the First Sea Lord after winning the Hackett Rundle CupRoyal Navy Plolo Team and the First Sea Lord after the Hackett Rundle Cup 2016 played at Tidworth Polo Club
Winners of the Duke of York's CupPolo Played at Tidworth Polo Club on 3rd June 2018
Winners of the AGC CupThe Adjutant General's Corps Cup 2016
Winners of the Leadership and Excellence CupPolo played at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Leadership and Excellence CupPolo played at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
The Royal Navy Polo Team after winning the Rundle CupThe Rundle Cup 2012 played at Tidworth Polo Club
Winners of the Kemble SalverPolo played at Tidworth between Royal Navy Polo and Taunton.
The Royal Navy won the Kemble Salver
2009 Thorney Island Polo TournamentThe Royal Navy Polo Team with their prizes after the 2009 Thorney Island Polo Tournament
After the presentations, comes the celebrations
A Royal Navy polo player opening a bottle of champagnePolo played at Tedworth Park polo Club on 1st June 2019<br/><br/>The Games were:<br/>Duke of York's Cup<br/>Royal Air Force vs Royal Navy<br/><br/>Heroes Cup<br/>Canonbury vs Strategic<br/><br/>Charity Rose Bowl<br/>Women in Polo vs Hackett Army Polo Team<br/><br/>Commentary by Miles Underwood
Polo cellebrationsAfter polo played at Tedworth Park polo Club on 1st June 2019, the Royal Navy had won the Duke of York's Cup
Filling a trophy with champagneAfter winning the Duke of York's Cup
Champagne after poloThe Royal Navy Polo Team celebrate with champagne after winning a tournament
WinnersAfter winning the Duke of York's Cup
Drinking champagne from a trophyDrinking champagne after winning the Duke of York's cup
This last photo is one of my favourite polo photos.
Behind the scenes there are the vital polo grooms.
Polo groom for the Royal Navy Polo TeamA friend, wearing a Royal Navy Polo T-shirt acting as groom for the Rundle Cup 2019
There are the pre match and between chukkas pep talks
Pre-match pep talkBefore the Hackett Rundle Cup 2016, the First Sea Lord talks to the Royal Navy Team
Coaching between chukkasThe Royal Navy polo team and their coach
Sponsorship is vital in polo, so here's the sponsor for the Hackett Rundle Cup.
The Royal Navy polo team with the First Sea Lord and sponsor Jeremy HackettShots of the RN polo team with the First Sea Lord and sponsor Jeremy Hackett
The Navy can take the Duke of York's Cup away with them.
Going home with the Duke of York's CupHeroes Polo Day 2016
But is does have to come back the next year.
The Duke of York's CupThe Duke of York's Cup being returned to Tedworth Park Polo Club in the back of a horsebox, ahead of the 2019 tournament.
Although there's a great deal of fun with the Royal Navy Polo Team, they are very competitive and don't always win.
After loosingShot of the RN polo team after losing the 2019 Rundle Cup
I hope it's not going to be too long before we can meet up for some more polo.
