What’s it all about?
The award-winning Veuve Clicquot Polo on the Beach event takes place at Watergate Bay near Newquay, with the promise of speed and excitement featuring some of the country’s top professional polo players.
What happens?
As the first autumn swells begin to pound the beach, surfers give way to ponies for Polo on the Beach - an exhibition match between two teams of top international players. Six professional polo players, one umpire and around thirty horses take to the sands of the famous surfing beach to play four fast-paced chukkas (periods of play lasting six and a half minutes) in a small arena measuring 100m by 50m.
How can you take part?
The match starts at 6.30pm and to help spectators soak up the atmosphere the Veuve Clicquot champagne bar and beach barbeque will be open on the beach from 3pm. Fast, furious and exciting, Polo on the Beach is more intimate than most other polo tournaments as spectators get to all see the action up close and can meet the players afterwards. If you know nothing about the game, don't worry as during the match expert commentators explain the rules and strategy of the game, while summarising the action for the spectators. With its friendly atmosphere, beach barbeque and free entry, the event breaks down the stereotypical view of polo as an elitist sport for the wealthy and is a unique event in Cornwall’s calendar.
* All details are based on the 2011 event.
Did you know?
Polo dates back to the 5th century BC when Persian cavalry units used the game as a training exercise.
Info:
www.watergatebay.co.uk/events.htm
Location: Watergate Bay, Newquay