It has been a controversial start to the year for the game of polo with the Home Office introducing new immigration rules for grooms and players for the 2017 English Polo Season.
Restrictions on visas for both polo players and grooms were first announced by the Home Office in October of last Year.
The Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) quickly got involved as they felt the changes were detrimental to the sport. The HPA requested a Judical Review of the Home Office proposals and stated that the new visa laws would affect around 800 summer migrant grooms, vital for the survival of polo.
The Home Office reached a compromise with the HPA on 27th January 2017. The outcome was 500 grooms being permitted to work here on visas during the 2017 English Season. These will be eligible to work for either UK or EU players or for non-EEA 4 goal or above players, who are contracted to play in medium or high goal teams.
This means polo below 15 goals team aggregate will not have the benefit of Argentine grooms or players. Understandably, the bulk of HPA Members, who play more modest polo are furious.The Home Office’s cap of 500 visas was a blow to English polo and the HPA are seeking further legal advice.
If the number of low goal players are reduced, there will be no rising stars to enter the medium and high level. We wait to hear more news with our fingers crossed and hope it’s better news than of late.
At Cambridge County Polo we are lucky. With University and Club Members playing arena polo in the winter, we can offer year round employment to English Grooms, which most other clubs and players cannot. Also some of us can rely on Argentine players with EU passports to boost our teams, but with Brexit approaching, how long will this last?
How we ask, are other clubs coping?
Please find below the draw for Sunday 12th. Games will commence at a slighter earlier time of 10.45am on Ground number one. We thank Thomas Clayton and Sophie Hughes for their sponsorship this weekend and also a very happy birthday to both Thomas and Belinda Schofield.
10.45 Gally's Farm v Iceni, Umpire pony from Gally's Farm
12.00 Mansfield v Vicarage Farm, Umpire from Mansfield
13.15 Pink Gins v Silver Leys, Umpire from Silver Leys
14.30 Innventure v High Summer, Umpire from Innventure
15.30 Abbot Hall v Lambourne, Umpire from Lambourne
16.45 Fabio's Fillies v CCPC, Umpire from Fabio's fillies
Have fun!
The management
Greenheath Tournament 11th/12th June 2016
Start times for both days will be 11am
Saturdays Draw
11am- ABBOTS HALL V GALLY'S FARM
12.15pm- PINK GINS V INNVENTURE
13.30pm- HIGH SUMMER V SILVER LEYS
14.45pm- CCPC V MANSFIELD ADVISORS
1600pm- ICENI V LAMBOURNE
17.15pm- FABIO'S LADIES V VICARAGE FARM
CCPC thank all that made such a wonderful weekend’s polo come together. The May Cup was played in great spirits by all with the Mansfield team winning the 2 goal section just beating Gally’s Farm (next time Manuel!)and Innventure polo team traveling from Silver Leys Polo Club beating Happy Hogs in the final of the 0 goal section. In the third tier section CCPC team of Sam Outridge, Laura Schmuiloff, Annie Gibbons and Giles Boothman triumphed against the Cambridge University team of Theo Wethered, Suki Whitehouse, Hubert Buiatti and Tripurdaman Singh in a very close game which has helped CUPC make their selection for the forth coming Varsity match against Oxford on the 4th June.
The next tournament to be held at CCPC will be the Hyde Pacific Cup on the 28/29th May, book early if you would like to play!
Hello All
Please find on our wesite under Fixtures all our tournament dates for this coming 2016 grass season. In addition to the listed tournaments we will be hosting a Victor Ludorum tournament called the Cavendish Cup which will take place from the 19th July through to a final being played 24th July and will be a 6 goal tournament.
It is with a big thank you from Cambridge County Polo Club to Audi and their exquisite team along with club members and staff that such a wonderful day was held here on Friday 3rd July 2015. The initial build and construction for this best kept secret started some two weeks prior to the event and with the weather holding and plenty of irrigation CCPC provided a ground fit for a future king.
No time to hesitate, if you would like to play in our next tournament on the 13/14th June please contact asap.
Well done Divots Divats on a tremendous win in our Hyde Pacific Tournament 0-4 goal section.
They battled with such heart in their opening game agaist the Iceni team of Edward Keymer, Johnnie Keymer, Phil Seller and James Van Open to make it through to a final played in damp slippery conditions in which they played the Potential team of Alec Banner Eve, David Banner Eve, Francesca Smith and Harriet Styles.
Nice cheesy grin from the umpire, did he take a backhander!
By popular demand we will be playing arena chukkas on the following dates leading up to the opening grass season, further additional dates can be arranged at any stage. We will send out an email the day before each date requesting number of chukkas you might like to play. If you require hire ponies to play on the below dates please contact Anita (07594 267832) in good time.
1st April- 6pm
4th April- 11am
6th April- 11am
8th April- 6pm
11th + 12th April-11am
15th April- 6pm
18th + 19th April- 11am
22nd April- 6pm (including small grass match for Japanese TV, weather permitting 3pm)
25th April- Grass Chukkas
Best regards CCPC
Thank you to those who have contacted wishing to pay their membership subscription for the forthcoming season. For others considering joining, details of the different membership tariffs are available on our website www.cambridgecountypoloclub.co.uk along with membership forms and bank details. This year the HPA have once again increased there joining fee to £130 for UK residents and £60 for under 18 Juniors. HPA membership will be required for playing at CCPC and can be paid through CCPC or any other club.
Please do not hesitate to contact if you require further information.
CCPC is please to announce that the Cambridge University Polo Club is settling in very nicely and it looks that there will be plenty of competitive games ahead, why not come along and try your hand at arena polo or visit to see what its all about.
We are excited to announce the all year round polo arena is under construction for all you budding beginners and professionals
Please remember if you would like to play chukkas on a Wednesday evening to book in by 0900hs that Wednesday by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. and if you would like to play Saturday morning chukkas to book in the same way on the Friday before by 6pm.
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Now's the time to consider your Polo for the forthcoming season. At present we can help with livery, summer groom or playing perfessional, it's much easier organising now rather than last minute. Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..