Polo in Britain

A History
Erscheinungsjahr 2023
ISBN: 978-1-4766-9342-2
Verlag: McFarland

Buch, Englisch, 277 Seiten, Paperback, Format (B × H): 178 mm x 254 mm

Ever since British soldiers returning from India in the mid-nineteenth century introduced their homeland to a fast-paced ball game on horseback, polo has remained the quintessential British sport. Although its origins lie in Asia, British pioneers are credited with both modernizing the game and spurring its spread worldwide. This volume chronicles the history of polo in the British Isles from its beginnings in the 1860s through the summer of 2011. It recounts the development of polo clubs, including the rise and fall of once mighty citadels of the game; describes the major competitions and many of the lesser tournaments in England and Ireland; and gives particular attention to international contests. Biographical sketches of top players, from early innovators to current superstars, and reflections on current issues affecting the game, including the rise of commercialism and the decrease of civility and sportsmanship, complete this vivid panorama of British polo.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Sport | Tourismus | Freizeit Sport Pferdesport, Tiersportarten

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Acknowledgments     
Foreword by Nicholas J.A. Colquhoun- Denvers     
Preface     

Part I. Pioneering Soldiers, 1860–1914     
1. The Beginning of Polo in Britain     
2. The Expansion of Provincial Polo     
3. Testing the Waters: The Early Internationals     
4. Initial Tournaments: The Hurlingham Champion Cup, the Inter-Regimental Tournament and the County Cup     
5. The Great Clubs and Polo Clubs Near London     
6. Polo in Ireland     
7. Spreading the Gospel Round the World     
8. The Climb to the Summit: The Westchester Cup     
Interlude I: 1914–1918     

Part II. Gifted Amateurs, 1919–1939     
9. A Time for Recovery     
10. The Olympic Games     
11. Struggles for the Internationals     
12. The Lean Years of the Depression     
13. British Polo Sculptors and Painters     
Interlude II: 1939–1945     

Between pages 156 and 157 are 8 colour plates containing 20 photos

Part III. Gentlemen and Players, 1947–1985     
14. Lord Cowdray Saves the Day for England     
15. The Royal Family Lends a Hand     
16. Colonials and Foreigners Change the Landscape     
17. Renewal of the Coronation Cup     
18. The Game Grows Unabated     
19. Polo Tours Overseas     

Part IV. Patrons and Professionals, 1986–2011     
20. The Growth of the Professional Player     
21. Women in Polo     
22. An Uneasy Alliance: HPA and FIP     
23. Literature of British Polo     
24. Polo in Britain in the Twenty- First Century     
25. Some Current Issues in British Polo     

Appendix 1: Letter to The Field, 20 March 1869     
Appendix 2: Polo Player Recipients of the Victoria Cross     
Appendix 3: Results of Major Championships     
Chapter Notes     
Bibliography     
Index

Über Autor(innen)

The late Horace A. Laffaye was a polo player and surgeon. He was on the board of directors of the Museum of Polo and was chairman of the Polo Hall of Fame Nominating Committee. His writings on the game included several books and many articles in magazines in North America, Argentina and England. He lived in Durango, Colorado.