The All England Polo Club was founded in 2006, and Hickstead
quickly became established as one of the premier venues in the
country. Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, the Chairman of the HPA,
delighted at the new arena facility declared recently that
'Hickstead has created one of the most modern and impressive arenas
in the country. Not only has it hosted very successful
international matches but it has worked hard to encourage the young
to play.'
Hickstead HPA coach Jack Kidd attributes this success to the
huge surge in popularity of arena polo in recent years saying 'in
the last ten years the science of arena polo has evolved to create
the most passionate, gladiatorial, fast game that I have ever
played.'
The difference between Summer and Winter Polo is akin to
that of football, and five-a-side football. Arena is played with
3-a-side teams, using a larger and softer ball than traditional
polo, and shots and angles can be played off the boarded sides of
the arena.
It is an ideal way to bring on young horses or improve those
that are too much of a handful on the bigger summer pitch. Another
huge selling point of Arena is that it requires less horse power,
thus eliminating the need for a large string of ponies. A club
member could happily play with two ponies throughout the season,
only having to rent an additional one or two for tournament
days.
The best way to understand Arena is to experience it, after
which we guarantee you will stop thinking of it as just a 'winter
fill in' and grow to love it as a sport in its own right. So come
and join the fun on one of our taster days, and see for yourself
what all the fuss is about... addiction guaranteed!