For English polo, the summer that was supposed to begin on 19 May is now being rebuilt around the pandemic. The headline news is that the Cartier Queen’s Cup, which normally takes place in June at Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park, has been rescheduled to the end of July.
The Queen’s Cup
This was meant to be a special year. The 2020 tournament marks the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s Cup, a milestone that organisers announced last October. The new date means teams will have to plan their shortened summer accordingly. Exact dates have not been given in the reports we have seen, only that it is the end of July.
The tournament is going ahead despite the lockdown restrictions. As things stand, Queen Elizabeth II is not expected to attend, having spent the spring at Windsor Castle, and we expect conditions at the club to be very different from those of previous years. We will report on any decisions about spectators as they are confirmed.
The HPA sets out a path
The Hurlingham Polo Association has been working on the question of how polo can safely restart in England. On 13 May it published guidelines and procedures for resuming activity, covering exercising, training and playing. Clubs must follow government guidance on COVID-19 at all times, and that guidance can change at short notice. The HPA said it would also issue a directive on the conduct of members.
- Clubs must follow government COVID-19 guidance.
- The procedures cover exercising, training and playing polo.
- The HPA said it would issue a directive on the conduct of members.
What we are hoping for
None of this is perfect, and many players will be frustrated at how long it is taking. But an orderly, step-by-step return is better than a rushed one, and the decision to move the Queen’s Cup rather than abandon it shows a determination to keep the season alive. A shortened summer of polo is still a summer of polo.
We will be keeping a close eye on the guidance and will report on every step. For now, if you have a polo pony at home, make the most of the long evenings and keep exercising safely.
Sources: International Business Times UK, Pololine
